Councillor wants to put the brakes on parking disc scheme in Gourock

Chris McEleny believes that ending the system in Kempock Street and Lower Kempock Street will benefit residents, traders and visitors to the town.

Currently, drivers must display a cardboard clock in their vehicle's windscreen when stopping off in the Kempock Street area of the town centre.

Drivers must use the discs to indicate their time of arrival and if they overstay their welcome, parking attendants can issue a £60 fine.

Inverclyde Council has launched a formal public consultation over the use of parking discs in Gourock.

The consultation came after Mr McEleny spoke out about the current set-up last year and discrepancies in the rules across the district.

He said: "Parking is an issue across Inverclyde's town and village centres. "However, at the moment, many people in Gourock don't find the system fair. "In Port Glasgow and Kilmacolm you don't need to display a parking disc and in Greenock there's a residents' parking scheme whereas in Gourock there isn't.

"I believe the need to display a parking disc in Gourock should be scrapped. "Lots of visitors to the town, and people that live in Inverclyde, get put off because of the system. "It's also vital that any new system includes a residents' parking scheme. "The residents of town centres and the people who work hard in local businesses make town centres what they are, so they should be supported. "I hope as many people take the opportunity to respond to the consultation as possible."

Mr McEleny feels Gourock should be on a par with the centre of places like Port Glasgow and Kilmacolm where there is no disc scheme in place.

He said: "We're the only area in Scotland that does this.

"It's not a fair system.

"They managed to get rid of the discs in Kilmacolm and it seems to work fine. "Hopefully this is the beginning of the end of the parking disc."

People have until July 21 to have their say in the Gourock review.

To take part, visit www.inverclyde.gov.uk/your-council-your-say