MP wants energy bills to be frozen INVERCLYDE’S MP today slammed his political opponents for not supporting a freeze on energy bills.

Labour’s Iain McKenzie declared that the SNP had ‘joined forces’ with Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs to deny local households an average saving of £120 a year.

Mr McKenzie said: “The Tory-led government had the chance to help hard working people in Inverclyde by voting to freeze energy bills.

“Not only did they refuse to support the Bill, they were propped up by SNP and Lib Dem MPs to deny help to thousands of households who are struggling with the cost of living crisis. “Hard working people across Inverclyde will rightly ask why the SNP chose to vote against Labour’s plans to help families struggling with soaring energy bills and ask why they chose to vote with the Tory-led government.”
Search for witnesses to brutal 1am assault POLICE have launched an investigation after a man was left with ‘serious’ head injuries following an early morning attack.

Detectives are appealing for information from the public after a 32-year-old was set upon at around 1am on Sunday in the centre of Bridge of Weir.

He received stitches to a serious head wound and needed treatment for other facial injuries following the incident near to the Original Chillies takeaway on Main Street in the village.

Officers are checking CCTV from the area.

They have also appealed for anyone who was in the area at the time to contact them via the non-emergency 101 number or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.


West Highland Way effort INVERCLYDE Ramblers are walking along the first part of the West Highland Way on Saturday.

Local enthusiasts are heading from Milngavie to Drymen.

Anyone interested should meet at Cathcart Street car park in Greenock at 9am.


Ex-school site listed for new health centre NHS bosses have confirmed the former Wellington Academy school site in Greenock is on their shortlist as a location for the town’s new health centre.

The Tele recently revealed how the vacant land off Dempster Street, pictured, is a frontrunner for a new multi-million pound facility to replace the crumbling Greenock Health Centre in nearby Duncan Street.

A spokeswoman for NHS GGC said: “NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is currently conducting a feasibility study to look at options for replacing health centres across Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

“At this stage this is a table top review only and before any decisions are made there will be full public and patient engagement.

“As part of this programme Greenock has been identified as requiring a replacement health centre, the Wellington Street site is being considered as a potential replacement for the Greenock Health Centre.”
Winners of Antiques Roadshow contest CONGRATULATIONS to the winners of our Greenock Rotary Antiques Roadshow competition.

We asked which TV auction show personality will appear at Thursday’s charity event, and the answer, of course, was Anita Manning.

The first two correct entries drawn came from Elsie Higgins of Port Glasgow and Mary Hackett of Greenock, who both receive free tickets and five free valuations.

Anita, pictured, and her team will be at the Lyle Kirk (Finnart St Paul’s) in Newark Street tomorrow to value items brought along between 10am and 2pm.

The cost of entry is £3, and the charge for valuation is £3 per item up to a maximum of five.

Photos of large items, such as furniture, are acceptable and all proceeds will go to the Mary’s Meals Backpacks project.


Members for walking group KEEN walkers are being encouraged to stretch their legs and join a free exercise network.

Inverclyde Globetrotters run weekly, guide-led outings for between 30 and 60 minutes.

The short, sociable walks are open to everyone.

Groups meet on Mondays at Your Voice, Clyde Square, Greenock, at 2pm and at the bus stop beside Coronation Park in Port Glasgow at noon on Wednesdays.

There are also Thursday walks setting off from Your Voice at 10am and the Battery Park pavilion at 2pm.

For more information call 728628.


Ton triumph on TV show MORTON’S Scottish Cup triumph featured on popular BBC quiz show Pointless.

The club was among a handful of ‘pointless’ answers to the final round question about Scottish Cup winners during Monday evening’s episode.

Ton won the world’s oldest national football trophy in 1922, famously beating Rangers 1-0 at Hampden thanks to a Jimmy Gourlay goal.


Classes are just cricket GREENOCK Cricket Club junior training starts tonight at Glenpark, Brisbane Street Greenock at 6pm til 7.30pm.

Training is on every Wednesday and open to boys and girls from eight to 15 years of age.

The club runs teams at under-10, u-11, u-13 and u-15 age groups with all abilities, from new starts to aspiring stars, catered for. All equipment is supplied by the club.

Coaching is provided by suitably qualified members and backed up by participants having the opportunity to be coached by the club’s overseas players, Tom Batters from Australia and Dwight Thomas from the Caribbean.

Following on from the success of last year, a girl’s team will again be representing the club and new players are welcome.


A&E offence A MAN is to be sentenced for repeatedly shouting and swearing at Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

James Trotter, 55, committed the offence at the accident and emergency department in April last year.

He pled guilty to the charge through solicitor Gerry Keenan at Greenock Sheriff Court.

Trotter, of George Street in Largs, will be sentenced next month.


£7k fraud repayment A WOMAN who committed a £7,000 benefit fraud has been told she will have to repay the money.

Catherine Osborne, 53, received £3,982 in income support that she was not entitled to between January and November in 2011.

That same year she also fraudulently received £2,723 in housing benefit and £515 in council tax benefit.

Greenock Sheriff Court heard that she could not carry out a community payback order because of poor health.

Osborne, of Barnhill Street, was instead fined £400 by Sheriff Rajni Swanney who also added: “You have to pay the money back”.


Easter gifts for residents RESIDENTS at a Greenock sheltered housing complex have thanked Morrisons for giving them an ‘eggstra’ special Easter!

Frank O’Donoghue, 75, visited the Greenock store to ask if they would let him have a special deal on chocolate eggs for the residents at St Margaret’s Court.

Frank said: “They absolutely floored me when they said they would actually give us 43 eggs worth £1.49 each.

“And not only that, but they also came up and delivered them to us.

“We’re all a big happy family here, and that brilliant gesture really made our Easter.

“We even had some eggs left over for our carers!”
Tenants and residents hold meeting A GREENOCK tenants and residents meeting will take place tomorrow night.

People living in Mallard Crescent, the Auchneagh estate and surrounding areas are encouraged to come along to Clydeview Academy from 7-8pm.

The meeting will take place in the school assembly hall. For more information, call Viny McNelis on 806124.