QUESTION marks have been raised about a plan for a £100m Greenock college campus.

Inverclyde's four independent councillors say West College Scotland should go back to the drawing board after unveiling plans for a new-build complex at East India Harbour.

The Tele revealed last month how management want to replace the current Finnart Street and Waterfront buildings.

Ronnie Ahlfeld, Drew McKenzie, Tommy McVey and Lynne Quinn have welcomed a potential £100m investment in the area but fear that the college is being downsized.

They say that replacing and relocating the current main Greenock campus will erode student numbers and jobs and believe Finnart Street should be revamped instead.

The independents claim that student numbers would plummet from around 12,000 in the days of the former James Watt College to just 2,000 at the proposed new campus, although WCS officials say that would not be the case.

Speaking on behalf of the independents, Councillor McKenzie said: "It is something we feel very strongly about. "We are certainly not against investment but such a serious decline in our student population does give cause for concern."

College chiefs face a number of hurdles to turn their plans a reality, including securing the necessary funding, planning permission from Inverclyde Council and a change of use for the plot, which is currently earmarked for housing.

Councillor McKenzie said: "For us, a college at the East India Dock means one thing - a greatly diminished student population in Inverclyde and the economic implications that will bring. "Right now there are already over one thousand college students leaving Inverclyde each day to study elsewhere.

"Staff morale at the college seems to be low and there is undoubted job uncertainty.

"The Finnart Street campus may indeed no longer be fit-for-purpose but it covers a sizeable - and no doubt valuable - area. "When we think of the excellent job that the City of Glasgow College has done on the Nautical College site we cannot help but feel that with a significant investment, the correct marketing and ambition, the college at Finnart Street can once again fill the needs of a sizeable student population.

"A conversation needs to take place in Inverclyde regarding the future of the college and we would ask that our colleagues in the various political parties join with us in asking the questions required."

WCS officials say they are happy to speak with all elected members about their proposals.

A spokesman said: "We welcome and share the councillors' passion for the future of our Inverclyde facilities, and look forward to working with them as we continue to develop our ambitious plans for a modern, attractive campus in Greenock."