COUNCIL bosses have moved to try and clarify confusion surrounding changes to the new parking rules regime in Greenock town centre.

Most restrictions will remain in force in the area until January, although a number of streets were removed on Monday from the new enforcement scheme under an ‘informal suspension’ arrangement.

A spokesman for Inverclyde Council confirmed that on-street parking in Greenock town centre is to be increased to a maximum of two hours.

But the following Greenock streets have been removed from the scheme altogether under the informal suspension: Terrace Road, West Stewart Street (from Jamaica Street to Kelly Street) Jamaica Street (from West Stewart Street and Union Street); Station Avenue and unnamed streets serving 51-57 Cathcart Buildings and 59-67 Cathcart Buildings.

The spokesman said: “These will be removed from the parking disc operation area and changed to on-street unrestricted parking areas.

“On-street and off-street parking restrictions to apply between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday.” All other parking restrictions in Inverclyde remain in force. The spokesman said any permanent change to a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) must undertake a specific consultation period of 21 days and requires approval by a council committee and the full council, who formally make the order.

A six week period is then allowed for any legal challenges to the council’s process in promoting the TROs. If there are no challenges, it then becomes effective.

The earliest the amended orders could be in place is 16 January 2015, but this depends on the number of objections received and any legal challenges.

A further report is to be brought back to the council on options around a residents’ parking scheme for Greenock town centre.

All information on parking in Inverclyde is published online at www.inverclyde.gov.uk/parking Questions can also be directed to the council by calling 717171.