DETERMINED campaigners will press the Scottish Government to invest in plans to breathe new life into Greenock's historic sugar sheds.

Activists are to urge the government for a firm financial commitment to discuss plans to regenerate the area's industrial heritage.

They had been due to hold talks with them but the coronavirus outbreak means things will be delayed.

Robert Buirds, secretary of the Campaign to Save Inchgreen Dry Dock, told the Tele: "We need commitment from the Scottish Government - direct government aid, not charity.

"If the government can give £1 million to the Waverley paddle steamer, I'm sure they could give the same to this project.

"That would help to launch the Inverclyde heritage strategy.

"We need money and to see what funding is available.

"From there we can start to plan things."

The group together with activists from the Falls of Clyde International and the Scottish Heritage Museum will have talks with Historic Environment Scotland, Visit Scotland, Inverclyde Council and the Scottish Government to discuss and explore heritage opportunities that may exist to develop the sheds.

Robert says one of the ideas is to use part of the sugar sheds as a fabrication and storage facility for the restoration of the historic Port Glasgow-built ship Falls of Clyde.

He added: "We want to use the James Watt Dock as the boat's main port but it needs refurbished, so we think the shed or part of it could be used as a fabrication and storage facility."

Robert says a firm financial commitment is urgently required revitalise the sugar sheds.

He added: "Our intention is to say to the Scottish Government we don't want charity to re-establish our heritage, we want some investment from the government.

"There's no use having grandiose plans if there's no money to do it."

The campaigners have welcomed the recent publication of an Inverclyde Heritage Strategy and believe the sugar sheds should play an integral part in it.

* Pic taken before social distancing measures enforced.