Petition to save a landmark pier has been put on hold - as it may be owned by the Queen

Councillors were asked to support a campaign to restore Lamont's Pier, near to Newark Castle in Port Glasgow, even though Inverclyde Council doesn't own it.

It is believed to be owned by The Crown Estate.

Councillors have now asked for a report to go to the next environment and regeneration committee to identify the owners and clarify the council's responsibility towards health and safety.

Campaigner John Rodgers collected 236 signatures of supporters who wanted to see the pier repaired and restored.

John said: "Hopefully we get the go-ahead to try and get some funding from other sources or funds as its an important part of out town's history.

"The council is spending money on regenerating other areas and buildings."

Calls to save the pier met with a mixed response at the petitions committee meeting.

Councillors Tommy McVey and Colin Jackson highlighted the advice of officials who said a structural and marine survey would be required.

The report said: "Due to significant survey costs, potential structural work costs, health and safety upgrading, unquantifiable ongoing costs officers do not recommend that Inverclyde preserve and preserve and restore Lamont's Pier."

Kenny Lang, environmental service manager, said the main issues were cost and the complexity of ownership.

He disclosed that a marine survey could cost £15,000 and the overall bill could run into six figures.

He said: "A survey would be needed to see if the structure is viable and to determine further costs.

"Our remit is the overall viability and what is underneath the pier?

"That and the ongoing costs, is the basis of our recommendations.

"We are not sure if the council has any ownership or title deeds of the pier and before we do anything we would have to resolve that."

The firm who owned the pier was a major company in the area.

James Lamont & Co. Shipbuilders and Repairers was founded in 1870 and operated from Dock Breast.

They leased the East India Drydock and later built another.

In 1925, the firm was incorporated as a private limited company, James Lamont & Co Ltd, and absorbed the boiler making and engineering business of Andrew Turner Lamont.

The company bought the Castle Works at Port Glasgow and started building ships there from around 1946 but closed down in 1980.

There were at one time parallel piers but only one survives.

Despite its shipbuilding heritage Councillor McVey believes repair of the pier couldn't be justified in the light of council cuts.

He said: "We would be spending good money after bad.

"I would like to support this petition but it is a question of priorities.

"For me I feel we have have higher priorities moving forward, such as cuts to breakfast clubs and community centres."

Councillor Jackson echoed these views, saying: "This is a ridiculous thing to come to this committee - a survey costing thousands of pounds that the council cannot afford, especially considering all of the things we've had to cut, breakfast clubs, school clothing grants, £15,000 could pay for that."

But councillor Jim MacLeod said: "I have concerns for the pier.

"It's part of our heritage in Port Glasgow - 236 people signed the petition.

"There is a strength of feeling for the pier and it also links in with the Clyde Coastal Walkway.

"There could be the possibility of funding from other sources.

"We need to identify who the owners are, who are more than likely the Crown Estates."

Fellow Port representative Cllr Drew McKenzie said: "Lamont's Pier is part of Port Glasgow's heritage.

"It is a nod to our industrial past.

"It is situated in a rather pleasant spot next to the castle and at the start of the river walkway to Kelburn Park.

"It is easy to argue that in these financially strapped times that there might be greater priorities as to how we spend our money but the fact remains that it would be sad to let the pier fall into dilapidation.

"There is great affection in the town for this structure, it is ideal for fishing and with chairs along its length would be a lovely place to sit.

"But before any of that we must find out who actually owns the pier and then we can have that conversation about the way forward with it."