ROADS bosses are today being urged to sort out a notorious Inverkip junction - before someone is killed.

Local councillor Ciano Rebecchi and Inverclyde MSP Stuart McMillan have called for immediate action to be taken to address the dangerous cut-off linking Main Street with the A78 after another serious crash on Saturday.

Four people needed hospital treatment as a result of the accident, including a woman who suffered a broken arm and a man left with severe bruising to his chest.

The road was closed for several hours while the emergency services dealt with the incident.

Traffic lights and other improvements are earmarked for the A78 - funded by over £3 million from the City Deal scheme - but there is currently no timeline for the work.

Mr McMillan said: "This junction is unsafe and with yet another accident, will it take a fatality to make the changes that are required?

"I have been highlighting the junction for far too many years and want all those with a responsibility to act."

The City Deal work is linked to a major new housing development at the former Inverkip Power Station site being led by land owners Scottish Power in partnership with Inverclyde Council and Transport Scotland, which is responsible for the A78.

Many motorists believe junction problem is due to the 60mph speed limit on the A78, which is too fast for cars approaching and exiting the Main Street cut-off.

A maximum speed of 30-40mph along the stretch and even a speed camera was suggested by Cllr Rebecchi in the past and he wants the authorities to revisit the proposals - something Mr McMillan is also in favour of.

Mr Rebecchi said: "Traffic lights are to go up but we don't know when. Something needs to be done now."

Local authority officials say they are also keen for immediate action but their hands are tied as it is a Transport Scotland issue.

A council spokesman said: "We strongly support proposals to cut the speed limit on the A78 near Inverkip. "Officials and councillors met representatives from Transport Scotland in January last year to discuss road safety in the area and to argue that the speed limit should be reduced from its current 60mph. Transport Scotland refused this request."

Transport Scotland chiefs say a study carried out seven years ago deemed the current speed limit 'appropriate' and that there have been 'no material changes' since then to suggest otherwise.

The agency will, however, will revisit the speed camera suggestion next year.

A spokesperson for Transport Scotland said: "Scottish Power has proposed a package of junction improvements for the A78 to support the future redevelopment of the Inverkip Power Station site, which includes the installation of traffic signals at the Main Street/Inverkip Marina junctions.

"We are generally content with the proposals, which were approved by Inverclyde Council's environment and regeneration committee in May 2019 and enabled the project to progress towards inclusion in the City Deal final business case.

"Delivery of the proposals will be the responsibility of Inverclyde Council as City Deal fundholders and Scottish Power as developers."