THE Clune Park demolition saga looks set to drag on for another year, it has been revealed.

Almost 300 court cases are pending against Inverclyde Council from property owners opposed to plans to flatten the tenements.

The local authority is due back at Greenock Sheriff Court next month to put forward arguments for the demolition of Clune Park.

Officials say it is still unclear as to whether the presiding sheriff will hear the appeals all at once or on a case-by-case basis.

Addressing a meeting of councillors, John Arthur, the council’s head of safer, sustainable and inclusive communities, said: “In previous cases it has taken a year.

“It could go on for another year.” Mr Arthur was responding to a question by SNP councillor Keith Brooks, who pressed officials for a timescale on the Clune Park plans.

The council says the number of appeals has dropped slightly, from 275 to 271.

It’s also emerged that ‘a number of owners’ have approached Municipal Buildings bosses to transfer ownership of properties subject to closing or demolition orders at ‘nil value’ — removing their liability for demolition costs.

Councillor Terry Loughran, said: “That’s helpful in the sense that maybe we can move forward.

“It’s been a long process.” A large number of properties on the rundown private estate have lain empty for some time and one councillor has expressed concern for the safety of people still living there, saying their lives are at risk.

Labour’s James McColgan says there have been problems with vandalism and fire-raising because some blocks are unsecure and in ‘dangerous conditions’.

He said: “There could be very serious consequences — a life could be lost.” Officials have told Cllr McColgan that efforts are being made to secure the buildings.