KEY projects to breathe life back into Gourock are under threat after council bosses clawed back £100,000 given to the town's regeneration forum.

The respective regeneration bodies for Greenock, Gourock and Port Glasgow were all asked to 'write-back' almost £1m in funds - without any consultation - so that the cash could be added to a £5 million council pot for job recovery instead.

But the Gourock forum had already teed up consultants to produce a blueprint to enhance Gourock Park, upgrade tennis courts, create a crazy golf attraction and introduce an outdoor education centre.

Councillor Ronnie Ahlfeld, chair of the forum, said: "One of the reasons for the [write back] proposal is that these funds are 'unallocated'.

"But we had engaged consultants some eighteen months ago to compile feasibility studies and we were working to carry out the recommendations."

Mr Ahlfeld tried to block the claw back by putting an amendment forward to a full council meeting, only for Labour and SNP councillors to vote against it.

Councillor Ahlfeld said the Gourock Regeneration Forum plans would themselves create jobs and that the decision to take the money away will not only affect that, but also runs the risk of jeopardising grant funding.

He said: "The remit of our forum is to promote the economic regeneration of our towns.

"Gourock Regeneration Forum is focused on achieving this and the work being done includes the creation of an outdoor education centre in Gourock Park and development of decaying sports facilities.

"We have been discussing with national and local sports bodies, including the Judy Murray Foundation, and have engaged with the private sector to discuss recommendations relating to developing woodland trails, a play area and creating a fully accessible park.

"On the business side, we are keen to create incubation hubs in empty local properties where local entrepreneurs and tradesmen can practice and develop their businesses in a risk-free environment.

"Our representatives have been engaged with major funders such as the Robertson Trust and others, and in many cases match funding is a prerequisite of making successful bid applications.

"Not only will the write back of £100k negatively affect this potential, it also negatively affects our ability to create jobs and employment opportunities."

Cllr Ahlfeld says the decision of the two major parties to vote against his proposal is 'disappointing and unfair'.

He told the Tele: "We had worked hard to provide projects which would be of benefit to the town and help us create local employment and had allocated our £100k against specific projects.

"Despite the lack of consultation and discussion, the funding was written back.

"The result of this is that projects will have to be shelved and postponed."

His fellow independent town councillor, Lynne Quinn, has also hit over the controversial cash seizure.

She said: "I am really disappointed that the Labour administration, backed up by the SNP and other political parties, have voted to claw back monies.

"The amount for Gourock Regeneration Forum was earmarked for our well publicised, ambitious plans to restore Darroch Park.

"We believe that the vision and plans we have for the park will regenerate and enhance our town, bringing a much-needed boost to the local economy.

"This decision will be a huge blow to the various members of our forum who have generously given their time for the benefit of Gourock.

"Their ideas, and those of the wider community for their own town, have been impeded without any consultation.

"Inverclyde has yet again been let down by party politics which stifles creative ideas and discourages any form of community empowerment."

But council leader Stephen McCabe has defended the decision, saying the local authority had tough decisions to make in the light of the budget and economic crisis due to the pandemic

Councillor McCabe said: "We are trying to limit any reduction in services and protect our workforce and keep any council tax increase to a minimum.

"It's about choices and we had to make some difficult decisions.

"Members of the budget working group decided that it was the right thing to do, the independents didn't agree, it went to the full council and they were defeated in a vote.

"At this particular time the number one priority is to protect and create jobs as part of a six million pound recovery plan."