A SEARCH could be launched to find a famous face willing to front Inverclyde’s ambitious repopulation plans.

Council bosses are being urged to identify and approach someone who could lead a publicity campaign designed to boost the number of people living in the area.

The idea is the brainchild of Port councillor Jim MacLeod, who believes that it would make a big difference.

He said: “Myself and my SNP colleagues have suggested that it would be great to have a well-kent Inverclyde individual fronting a publicity campaign.

“It would help us reach out to a wider audience to try and encourage more people to come and settle in Inverclyde.

“I hope the council takes on board this suggestion.” Councillor MacLeod spoke as he welcomed new proposals to entice more people to live in the area.

Plans have been put forward which would see financial inducements offered to graduates willing to resettle in the district.

Mr MacLeod, a board member of the Inverclyde Alliance community planning partnership, said: “For a long time now Inverclyde has suffered badly from population decline, particularly since the 1980s when Thatcherite policies caused the loss of many of our local industries in shipbuilding, heavy engineering and sugar.

“For 30 long years we have seen the loss of so many of our younger people as they sought sustainable well-paid work elsewhere.

“This has had a drastic effect on so many areas of life in Inverclyde.” But the councillor believes the tide is slowly turning thanks to local agencies working alongside the Scottish Government.

He feels that initiatives such as council tax discounts, improved train services and modern apprenticeship schemes could finally halt the population drain.

Councillor MacLeod told the Telegraph: “I am particularly pleased to see the council tax initiative being introduced after a constituent of mine had proposed this and I, in turn, suggested it to the council.

“I am hopeful that this inducement will lead to more people taking up the opportunity to relocate here, particularly with the district having such good transport links to the airport, Glasgow and the west of Scotland.”