EVERY effort must continue to be made to bring the new Scottish film studio to Inverclyde.

Scottish Enterprise insist no final decision has been made, but, regrettably, Inverclyde is not included in a list of potential sites featured in a new report.

Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Duncan McNeil is understandably annoyed. Backed by Inverclyde Council and Clydeport, he has been championing the area as a suitable location, following on from his successful lobbying to bring Waterloo Road here.

He points out that Scotland’s lack of a studio means we are losing out to Northern Ireland and Wales.

Ironically, Cardiff is the base for filming two highly successful TV series with a Greenock connection. Dr Who and Sherlock have benefited hugely from the creative talents of award-winning Steven Moffat, who taught English at the former Cowdenknowes High.

Scottish Enterprise should bear in mind that Inverclyde was praised by the producer of the new Scarlett Johansson film, Under the Skin, which was shot here, and there are many other examples of movie and TV series makers taking advantage of our varied and attractive locations, as well as our handiness for the M8 and Glasgow Airport.

Not forgetting that Waterloo Road’s Shed Productions are part of Warner Brothers, and Clydeport is owned by the Peel Group, the majority owners of James Bond’s home, Pinewood Studios.

So there might yet be hope for a movie ‘lights, camera, action’ scenario in Inverclyde!