IT was over in a matter of seconds.

The Inverclyde skyline changed forever as the iconic Inchgreen Cranes were brought down in a controlled explosion. 

It has been years since these great dry-dock cranes were last in use. Longer still since their prime when shipyards thrived on the Clyde. Yet still it seemed to mark the end of an era.

Should the cranes have stood as a permanent monument to Inverclyde’s proud shipbuilding past? Or would preservation of a local landmark get in the way of progress — an expensive distraction from the regeneration of the riverside?

That’s still being debated two weeks later.

There is no doubt however that Inverclyde is going through a period of transition. The economy is changing. 

The challenge for leaders is to make sure that new, emerging opportunities deliver the jobs and security that people in Inverclyde need. 

Investment coming to Inverclyde through the £1 billion Glasgow City Deal will prepare the Inchgreen site for new development. Ocean Terminal in Greenock is to become the ‘cruise ship capital’ of Scotland, with an extension to the quayside and a new visitor centre.

Ferguson’s, the last shipbuilder on the Lower Clyde, in administration only three years ago, has just won a £2 million contract with Western Ferries for new link-spans and they are bringing new orders to Port Glasgow again.

Riverside Inverclyde, the urban regeneration company part-owned by the council, is working to improve commercial property in the area to attract new business and transform the river’s frontage, making the most of the Inverclyde coast and deep water access. 

The river was the key to Inverclyde’s economic success in years gone by and the growth and development of places like Port Glasgow and Greenock. It can be again in the future.

To help Inverclyde unlock its potential, we need a supportive, joined-up economic strategy from the Scottish Government. 

They should do all they possibly can to encourage publicly-owned CalMac to use the skills and expertise of Ferguson’s workers.

They should stretch the purchasing power of government further, with more local procurement to support local industries.

They should ensure that Inverclyde has modern infrastructure right for a modern tourist destination and business location. 

These are changing times for Inverclyde. Let’s make sure that it’s change for the better, change that delivers prosperity now and into the future for generations to come.