PLANS to build a new village at the former Inverkip Power Station site have been put on display for the public.

Residents gathered at Wemyss Bay Community Centre for the first of two public consultation events on the proposal to build a 'coastal village' with 650 homes together with business and ‘small-scale’ retail units and community space.

Maps on display at the event showed that the main entrance to the site would be via a roundabout which would be built at the north end of the power station on the A78 while a secondary access point would be created at the original entrance to the power station.

As part of the plans, the slip road onto the A78 northbound would be phased out.

The consultants at the event told the Tele that there had been a positive reaction to the plans.

But local resident Martin Curtis, who lives in Brueacre Drive in Wemyss Bay, is concerned about the potential impact the development would have on the road network.

The 53-year-old marine engineer said: "Obviously the worries are going to be the transport links and whether the retail development will work or not.

"The traffic is bad enough getting out of here in the morning going past Inverkip and now they're wanting to put a roundabout in."

Marshall Middleton, 75, who also lives in Wemyss Bay, also raised his concerns.

He said: "I'm a little bit perturbed.

"I can realise why they want to do it and that it's good that we get more people into the area but we must be able to logistically support the area.

"Obviously the biggest part is vehicle access and the effect on the A78 as we're talking about an additional 1,300 vehicles."

Site owners Scottish Power have made an initial approach to Inverclyde Council for permission to build the mixed-use ‘urban village’

But before formally submitting detailed plans for the site, the developers are required by law to consult with the local community.

Geoff Whitten, a consultant from Turley, working on behalf of Scottish Power, says they will take people's views on board before a planning application is submitted.

A second consultation event is taking place today at Inverkip Community Hub from 3-8pm.