A RECYCLING centre in Gourock is set to reopen next week after work at the depot was completed.

The Kirn Drive dump will be back in business from 8am on Monday after closing down earlier this year to allow redundant buildings to be demolished and petrol tanks to be removed from the site.

For operational reasons, council vehicles have had to continue filling up from the tanks and this has delayed the demolition work.

The council has been operating a temporary site in its place at the old Craigmuschat Quarry as a short-term replacement.

It will close down at 6pm Sunday - but the local authority says it has proved so popular that they are now planning to establish it as the town's permanent recycling centre in the future.

Councillor Michael McCormick, convener of the environment & regeneration committee, said: “There has been a very positive reaction from the public to the Craigmuschat Quarry site and the council is now planning to make it the permanent home for the recycling centre.

"Council officers will now draw up a feasibility study and seek planning permission to take this forward.

“Craigmuschat Quarry works very well as a recycling centre and, while it was initially only intended to be a temporary replacement for Kirn Drive, we are now looking to make it permanent.

“In the meantime Kirn Drive will be re-opened and the council will work towards re-opening the Craigmuschat site once all the necessary approvals are in place.

"This is likely to be in the New Year.”

Town councillor Chris McEleny says he agrees with the idea as long as no jobs are lost.

He told the Tele: "“Each year council officials offer up Gourock recycling centre as a potential budget saving but it’s important to remember that this is a well used facility by people in Greenock too.

“As long as there are no impacts on jobs in the long term this is the most sensible approach."