THE site of a former swimming pool which has been left derelict for 20 years will soon be buzzing with bees and butterflies. 

The old Hector McNeil baths, a common good site, has been handed over to a group which is turning Inverclyde’s wasteland into meadows.

Volunteers from the Inverclyde Pollinator Corridor project have been reclaiming local areas for wild flowers and the old pool is the latest.

Wemyss Bay bee-keeper Laura Reilly, who is leading the campaign, says she is delighted to get Inverclyde Council’s support for their latest venture.

She said: “We hope to work with partners to fill the area with colourful wild flowers and interesting creative elements.

“We are very excited about taking this on and continuing our work.”

Inverclyde Council recently agreed to hand the management of the old McNeil baths to the Pollinator Corridor project, which is run by Inverclydebuzz.

Under the agreement they will turn it into a biodiversity site.

The council’s environment and regeneration convener Councillor Michael McCormick said: “It is nearly 20 years since the old swimming baths were demolished and the site has been vacant ever since.

“The land is common good land so it can’t be sold or leased without obtaining court authority. However, this is a perfect opportunity to bring something pleasant and useful to the area.”

Inverclydebuzz has already established a series of mini wild flower meadows, primarily to provide food for bees and butterflies.

These include the Belville Biodiversity Garden in Belville Street, winner of the Royal Horticultural Society’s ‘Greening Grey Britain Award’ 2017.

Local people will be encouraged to take part in restoring the land where the baths stood.

Organisers say the garden could potentially be used as a place to learn dry stone walling and other skills such as wood carving, while there is also potential for local schools to use the site to learn about biodiversity.

Local councillor Tommy McVey, who has worked with Laura, said: “The work that they are going to do will not only benefit the environment but it will mean the site, which is currently a bit of an eyesore, will be tidied up.

“Laura and her team deserve an enormous amount of credit for getting the project to this stage.”