A SENIOR councillor has taken a swipe at River Clyde Homes and questioned whether they are fit to run a new waterfront flats development in Greenock.

Planning convenor David Wilson raised concerns about the housing association's record during a Municipal Buildings debate on their bid to build properties at James Watt Dock.

Council planning officers had recommended the board should grant permission to RCH for 87 new flats on the site, as part of revised proposals which would see an overall total of 137 being built at the site.

But Cllr Wilson criticised the upkeep of other properties the association owns, pointing to a lack of grass cutting and maintenance of community areas.

Councillor Wilson, who sits on the board of social landlord Link Housing, said: "I support social housing but this is possibly not the best place for it.

"This is our most prestigious development and my great worry is River Clyde Homes, for environmental reasons.

"When you look at their new builds the community areas are overgrown and I am not sure about their grass cutting.

"They are not the best environmentally."

The planning application attracted objections from protesters raising the issue of noise pollution from nearby workplaces and the questions over traffic flow.

But Councillor Wilson added: "Notwithstanding that I am prepared to move that this be approved."

Concerns were also expressed by Cllr Jim McEleny, who supported Inchgreen Dry Dock campaigners in their bid to keep JWD for industrial use.

In the end the planning board overwhelmingly backed the application with only Councillor McEleny voting against.

Cllr John Crowther declared that he could not take part in the decision-making process because he had lodged an objection to the plans.

He said: "I think we would be foolish to grant the application as there is a real danger this would indeed have a negative impact on the adjacent site and future viability."

The councillors have stipulated that the new flats must be tripled glazed to reduce noise pollution.