Twitter row politician takes back criticism of Inverclyde

Independent councillor Dave Berry, pictured, had a change of heart after getting into a Twitter exchange with Inverclyde Council leader Stephen McCabe.

Mr Berry made some caustic comments about the area after reading about criticism of Riverside Inverclyde when a secret analysis of its performance was made public.

Writing in his blog, he used Inverclyde as an example of decay — and was subsequently challenged to visit the area by Mr McCabe.

Now Mr Berry is a big fan of the district after being taken on a tour of the area.

He said: “Having gone to Inverclyde as an unbeliever, as no fan of this post-industrial backwater, one afternoon with Stephen McCabe turned me firmly around.

“Now I wonder if, despite all our advantages, East Lothian might not come second to Inverclyde in seizing a rich quality of life for the future of its citizens.” He admitted that his personal experience of Inverclyde had been limited to passing through on his way to Cowal and Bute and several days of canvassing for the SNP at the 2011 Inverclyde parliamentary by-election.

Councillor Berry said: “Stephen was keen to correct any impression I had that the area was an economic basket case from which people were fleeing.

“It’s easy to see the potential in Inverclyde. While some heavy engineering remains and James Watt Dock has been converted to a marina, there are miles of unused waterfront which are now obvious contenders for redevelopment — all within a few hundred metres of modern trains to the centre of Glasgow and the A8 to Glasgow Airport.” He said Inverclyde had moved with the commercial times, and he was particularly impressed with the Custom House Quay area.

Councillor McCabe said he was delighted that Mr Berry now had a better impression of Inverclyde.

The Inverclyde leader said: “It was a very useful visit.

“Councillor Berry was impressed by the number of companies we have here, as well as our waterfront potential and the beauty of the scenery.”