SAFETY fears have been raised over a plan by rail bosses to close Gourock Station at night.

Labour's candidate at the upcoming council elections Martin McCluskey, who lives in the town, has hit out at the proposals which would leave the terminal ticket booth unstaffed every night of the week.

If it goes ahead there will be no presence from 4.30pm most days, with further early closures also planned at the weekend.

Mr McCluskey says Gourock is a major public transport hub and rail chiefs are putting passengers at risk.

He said: "These cuts put at risk the safety of the station, of passengers and increase the risk of anti-social behaviour.

"Vulnerable passengers, or those travelling alone, would have no one to turn to if the station is unstaffed.

"I have been contacted by representatives of the rail unions and by concerned passengers regarding the impact this will have on the station, Gourock town centre and the wider community."

Concerns over vulnerable and solo passengers, toilet facilities, salting and gritting in cold weather have also been raised.

The proposed cuts would see the station unstaffed early in the morning as well as the evening.

ScotRail’s proposed cuts at Gourock station would see the time that the station is staffed cut by 47 hours.

Currently it is open to almost midnight every day of the week and opens as early as 5.40am on weekdays.

Rail management say staff would be on hand but not behind the ticket office window and that this means they would be able to spend more time in and around the station performing revenue protection duties, passenger-assists and dealing with any anti-social behaviour.

A spokesman also told the Tele that the toilets would remain open for the same hours as present and that maintenance and ongoing reports of defects would all continue as normal.

ScotRail also says access to the station building would continue as at present.

Their consultation into the proposal has now closed, with the responses to be analysed before final decision is reached.

Under the plan opening times would also be cut at Greenock Central and West, Port Glasgow and Wemyss Bay, while Cartsdyke and Woodhall's booking offices would close down completely.