A MOTHBALLED railway station has been taken out of action to stop gangs using the former IBM site as a makeshift party stop.

It was revealed last week that trains will no longer stop at IBM Halt, but the Tele can reveal that anti-social behaviour was one of the key reasons.

Inverclyde MSP Stuart McMillan stepped in after reports of large groups congregating in the deserted site and drinking.

Hundreds of young people have been using the Wemyss Bay line to get to open air parties at places like Inverkip Beach.

After the authorities started a crackdown the youths responded by alighting earlier at the station once used by thousands of workers to get to Spango Valley.

Now a push between the police, community wardens and ScotRail has led to the closure of the station.

MSP Mr McMillan told the Tele: "There have been large groups of youths spotted hanging about there.

"They are getting off on their way to Inverkip beach and drinking there instead.

"There were real concerns about the safety of young people because it is not easily accessed.

"Its sheer size made it difficult for the police to tackle.

"It was therefore clear that if trains ceased to stop at the IBM Halt altogether, then the issues at Spango Valley would be resolved, or at the very least significantly reduced.

"We all decided that action had to be taken.

“It’s great that ScotRail have listened to the concerns of not just myself and local councillors, but particularly police, as they were regularly deploying resources to the area."

As of December 9 train services between Glasgow Central and Wemyss Bay will no longer stop at the IBM Halt.

But it is not the end of the the liner forever - as the site is earmarked for future regeneration and the station would be brought back into action at that point.

Chief Inspector Debbie Reilly, police area commander for Inverclyde, said: “It had been identified that the only people using the IBM Halt Station near to the closed IBM facility were youths using the area to congregate.

"Given the site's unsafe condition, ourselves alongside partner agencies - such as the local council and British Transport Police - took the collective decision to request the station should no longer be in use.”

Mr McMillan added: "It is a temporary closure until such times as the site is regenerated."

A British Transport Police spokesman told the Tele: “We welcome the announcement to remove IBM Halt from timetabled services in an effort to deter anti-social behaviour from the railway.

"Our force remains committed to making sure the railway is a pleasant environment to travel and we’ll continue to work closely with ScotRail, Police Scotland and the Scottish Government.”

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Pictured are Iain Johnson, from Police Scotland, ward cllr Ciano Rebecchi, Sylvia Wilson of ScotRail and Christopher Shields, British Transport Police.