A LASTING tribute is being proposed to honour a late Greenock councillor at a new £19m housing scheme in the community he once served.

A street within the 134-flat development next to James Watt Dock Marina is to be named after former east end elected member and Inverclyde Council leader Robert Jackson.

The idea was proposed by his successor and serving councillor, Robert Moran, as a way of remembering Mr Jackson, who died in 2003.

The street that runs along the top of the new River Clyde Homes estate - nearest the water - would be named Jackson Place with the road through the middle of the scheme to be called Great Harbour Place.

The suggestions are expected to be rubber-stamped by the council's environment and regeneration committee next week.

Cllr Moran said: "I knew Robert very well and actually took over from him when he retired.

"I took his seat in the east end of Greenock.

"Robert lived in the east end of Greenock all his life, worked in Kincaid's and was a great champion for the area.

"His father was also harbourmaster and lived in the house at James Watt Dock.

"Robert was very much an east end guy and I think this would be a fitting tribute for all the work he did."

The Labour stalwart died suddenly of a heart attack at home in May 2003 at the age of 66 having retired just before the election that year.

He was elected to the former Inverclyde District Council in 1988 and became deputy leader in 1990.

Mr Jackson lost his seat two years later before being voted back in again in the mid-90s to the newly-created Inverclyde Council and he served as leader from 1999.

Councillors will vote on the street name proposals at a public meeting in the Municipal Buildings on Thursday at 3pm.

Mr Moran said: "It's now up to my colleagues on the environment and regeneration committee to decide but the responses I've had - cross-party - have been positive."

Last year, the carriageway running between the housing development and the marina was named Douglas Rae Road in honour of the former Morton chairman and Greenock entrepreneur, who died in June 2018 aged 87.