AN appeal has been lodged against Inverclyde Council's move to demolish a tenement in Port Glasgow's Clune Park estate.

Inverclyde Council served a demolition order for 5 Maxwell Street before Christmas.

But the Tele can reveal that the order has since been appealed.

It is understood that the case is due to call in court on January 23, when a procedural hearing will be held and could set a date for the appeal proceedings, likely to be held in May or June.

Inverclyde Council says it cannot comment on the legal action but is determined to press ahead with its bid to flatten the rundown estate.

A spokesman said: “Our position is - and continues to be - that the long term regeneration of Clune Park can only be realised through the demolition of the existing properties.

"That will allow us to breathe new life into this area, which needs serious investment to make it the strong, vibrant community it could be once again.

“In December we served demolition orders and will continue to press as one of the ways we promote the long term regeneration plans for the area."

The local drew up a master plan for the area which was passed eight years ago, seeking to bulldoze the eyesore buildings and replace them with new social housing.

But since then they have been unable to secure agreement with private landlords to purchase their properties.

The Clune Park saga ended up in court but the local authority lost the case and since then there has been a stalemate.

The once thriving area is now a ghost town with rows and rows of empty tenements of burned out flats, smashed windows, shut up shops, a boarded up church, old school and deserted streets.

It is understood that only around 20 residents remain on the estate, with some buildings lying completely empty.

Last year the Tele revealed how the local authority had purchased 165 properties and slapped closing orders on another 90, meaning that no one can move into them.

There are 430 flats in total at Clune Park and six buildings are currently subject to active demolition orders.

Council leader Stephen McCabe recently said the local authority continues to 'engage' with people who have properties in the area and officials are hopeful they may be able to send in demolition crews this year to flatten at least one of the blocks.