COUNCIL leader Stephen McCabe today hit back at the boss of McGill’s after he warned that the bus company could quit Inverclyde.

The firm’s managing director Ralph Roberts launched a stinging attack on what he described as the ‘badly led’ local authority after buses at the Larkfield HQ were snowed in on Thursday morning.

Mr Roberts said services were almost three hours late with around 4,200 early morning passengers across Inverclyde stranded because Earnhill Road leading to the depot was ‘impassable’ due to the heavy overnight snowfall.

The McGill’s chief warned that it could lead to the company quitting the area with the loss of up to 70 jobs.

Mr McCabe says he’d be happy to meet up with Mr Roberts to discuss his remarks.

He said: “If Mr Roberts is dissatisfied with the council’s approach to winter maintenance I am happy to arrange a meeting for him with myself and senior officers if he cares to contact me.

“I don’t appreciate threats being made through the Greenock Telegraph.

“I am also happy to offer the council’s assistance to his company should they wish to explore the option of relocating their depot to another location within Inverclyde which is less vulnerable in winter weather than the current location.”

Mr Roberts last week vented his anger at the council’s preparation and response to the heavy snowfall after buses and staff were unable to get in our out of the company’s Larkfield depot.

He criticised the local authority for not taking heed of the advance weather warnings, adding that the council ‘seem to inhabit an alternative universe’.

But council officials said it was ‘challenging’ for roads staff having to deal with over five inches of snow falling in a short space of time and that Earnhill Road – one of their priority routes – was tended to on several occasions.

Mr Roberts has revealed that ‘many approaches’ have been made by other local authorities to lure McGill’s away from Inverclyde but said that has up until now been a non-starter because owners James and Sandy Easdale want to retain the head office in Greenock.

He has now put the idea back on the table for the company’s next board meeting.