PLANS are to be drawn up to improve access to Port Glasgow railway station for disabled people.

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) will spend £30,000 over the next year on a major feasibility study involving engineers who will look at making it easier for people in wheelchairs to get into and out of both sides of the station.

Inverclyde Council’s representative on SPT, Councillor David Wilson, raised the issue after being approached by Port Glasgow Regeneration Forum, who had been asked for help by disabled people who want to use the trains but find it too difficult to get to the platforms.

Cllr Wilson said: “There are access problems at the Princes Street and park and ride sides of the station.

“Someone in a wheelchair has to go around the houses to get to the platform if they are going in the Gourock direction or coming off the train from Glasgow.

“It’s impossible for them to use the bridge over the line, so finding a way around this problem would be a big improvement for many people.

“It would also encourage more people to use the trains, which is one of SPT’s objectives.”

The study will be carried out by SPT engineers on behalf of Inverclyde Council.

Mr Wilson said they will look at designing different solutions to the problem.

He said: “There would be a lot of engineering involved, so it will take some time for the technical experts to study the location and produce plans.

“I look forward to seeing what they come up with so that we can move forward with making Port Glasgow station easily accessible for everyone.”

Plans would be presented to SPT and Inverclyde Council for consideration, and then finance would have to be agreed for the work to be done.