YOUNGSTERS could get a new night cafe at Battery Park if campaigners get their way.

Cardwell Bay and Greenock West Community Council wants to utilise the park pavilion in the evenings to give kids something to do.

They say there is a lack of facilities in the area and will be setting up a working group to take their ambitious plan forward.

Tom McKenzie, chairman of the community council, told the Tele: 'For some time now we have been looking at a way to provide activities and accommodation for young people.

'The kids need a place to go. Some get involved in mischief when they have nothing to do, but they aren"t all bad.

'We would like funding and council service support to get this facility for our young people.' The campaigners are being supported in their quest by SNP councillor Chris Osborne, who agrees the area could do with new facilities.

Councillor Osborne. pictured, said: 'I have spoken to Inverclyde Council and they are open to the idea. There is no community centre here and no youth club in places like Greenock Academy either.

'The amount of facilities for teenagers in the area is inadequate.

'But we do have a pavilion at the Battery and there are volunteers at the community council keen to get involved. A working group is going to see if a youth cafe could be run there, say, two or three nights a week.

Councillor Osborne added: 'It is only at the very early stages, but hopefully we can get something up and running.

'It would help get kids off the streets and give them something to do and I"m sure everyone would be pleased by that.' A spokesperson for Inverclyde Council said: 'If the community council would like to put their suggestion in writing to our corporate director for environment and community protection, he will look into it.'