BOSSES at a busy Gourock bar-restaurant want the go-ahead to take over a space beside the premises for a new al fresco dining area.

Inverclyde Council are considering a bid from The Cafe Continental to use the barren gap site beside the popular town centre venue, on Kempock Street.

The land is owned by the local authority, who are now set to hold a public consultation over the leasing idea.

It sits between the Cafe and the adjacent Sainsbury's store and overlooks the River Clyde, with a staircase linking the street with Lower Kempock Street and its car parks.

Cafe bosses are looking at a split level plan for the site, with tables and chairs on a decked upper level and a bin store facility beneath.

Gregg McLeod, who runs the Cafe Continental, told the Tele that the plans would give Kempock Street another attraction for visitors.

He said: "My view is it's a messy area at the moment and this would help keep it clean.

"I've never seen anyone else tidying the space below, I tidy it up myself but I've never seen anyone else weeding it.

"Nobody down here's got outside drinking and I think that'd be a big plus for us.

"It's a facility for the community in general.

"The gap site is unused and if it's kept tidy and made presentable people could use it."

Due to a number of planning classifications assigned to the site, a full public consultation must be carried out before any lease can be considered.

Municipal Buildings officials are understood to be preparing the consultation and when the exercise is finished a report would then be submitted to the environment and regeneration committee.

In addition to council approval, a proposed lease would require court consent, as the site falls under inalienable common good legislation.