A HEALTH and safety boss from Gourock says leisure centre and council bosses need to clean up their act.

Charlie Street, 56, has hit out at overgrown weeds and the condition of the moat at the rear of the Waterfront Complex in Greenock, plus the walkway alongside it.

The dad who lives in Manor Crescent says he is 'shocked' at the degeneration of the area which was a centrepiece of the Tall Ships race event.

Mr Street said: "There was once a lovely wee lily pond here.

"I just don't understand why Inverclyde Leisure has allowed this to deteriorate.

"It looks like they just don't care."

He added: "The walkway along to Custom House Quay is also overgrown with weeds and looks really run down.

"Consider the area around the leisure centre now, compared to a few years back when we hosted the Tall Ships - we were so proud to host the festival and now it is a shambles."

Mr Street added: "Inverclyde Leisure need to clean up their own back green."

Bosses at IL say they accept the area is overgrown and management have added that they are dealing with the situation.

Stuart Boyle, operations manager, said: "We appointed an external landscaping contractor to address the moat area a few weeks ago however as you can imagine it can be difficult to get a date in the diary at this time of year.

"I am pleased to announce that the work will be carried out week commencing eighth of July."

The council has also pledged to tidy up the pathway it is responsible for.

A spokesperson for the local authority said: “The walkway was inspected today and we accept that there is an issue with weeds, particularly growing between the small cobblestones.

"The area is regularly weeded and it was done most recently at the end of May.

"However, the recent rain and relatively warm weather have created ideal growing conditions for all types of plants and weeds can sprout very quickly.”