THE fight to revitalise dormant Inchgreen Dry Dock is being taken all the way to Holyrood with a demand that its possessor be brought into public ownership to release its 'stranglehold' on Inverclyde's marine industrial development.
A petition has been lodged with the Scottish Parliament urging the country's decision-makers to nationalise Clydeport, part of the Peel Ports group, that has controlled Inchgreen since 2003.
The major move by the Campaign to Save Inchgreen Dry Dock comes after a plan to turn Scotland's largest dry dock into ship scrapping hub has spectacularly failed to bring a single vessel.
Support for the petition is gathering momentum and has attracted around 700 names in its first few days after going online on the Scottish Parliament website - as well as the backing of a prominent MSP.
Labour politician Katy Clark - whose west Scotland region includes Inverclyde - said: “It is deeply inappropriate for a private business ultimately owned in tax havens to own swathes of land and key national assets, particularly given their track record, including around health and safety.
“Peel has created anchorages on the Clyde close to residential areas, failed to sufficiently engage with communities on key development proposals, refused to dredge the River Clyde beyond Braehead...and misused facilities such as Inchgreen which could instead be used by the Scottish Government for strategic industrial development."
Fledgling ship scrapping company Atlas Marine Decommissioning promised to bring 100 skilled jobs after signing a long term lease with Clydeport for Inchgreen in 2021.
But the company has since failed to win a single contract, with the dry dock — described as a maritime industrial 'jewel' — remaining unused.
Activists within the campaign to save the dry dock have been consistently frustrated in recent years in their attempts to drive change and are asking ministers to revoke Peel's status as the port authority for the River Clyde and establish a new municipal organisation in its place.
The proposed restructure would also include the compulsory purchase of the dry dock 'for the benefit of the Inverclyde community'.
READ MORE: Anger as Inchgreen Dry Dock fails to welcome a single vessel since scrapyard deal agreed
The site has been left empty with Atlas yet to bring in any vessels, despite Inverclyde Council leader Stephen McCabe hailing the business deal as a 'terrific shot in the arm' for the local economy when it was announced.
Plans recently submitted by Inchgreen Marine Park Ltd, a joint partnership between the local authority and Peel - led by Cllr McCabe and fellow elected member Chris Curley - include the development of the site through a series of demolition works, the erection of a new security gatehouse and substations and other infrastructure improvements.
However, campaigners insist further action is needed to restore the maritime asset's position as a fully operational marine facility.
Campaign secretary Robert Buirds, who previously described the standstill as a 'scandal', said: "It’s a disgraceful state of affairs that we are subsidising a private company who have destroyed their own facilities, yet our local politicians have given their blessing, outrageous.
"Our community struggles for work and jobs and our politicians throw money at the company that’s strangling our industrial development and economic future.
READ MORE: Ship scrappage firm claims to have spent £6m on Inchgreen Dry Dock
"Our local politicians have abandoned challenging Peel Ports and have given up the fight to wrestle Inchgreen from their grasp, now they just throw money at them in the hope something good comes from that."
MSP Ms Clark said: “Communities up and down the West of Scotland have had enough.
"Instead of chucking grant money at this unaccountable mega-firm, it is time decisions about this key part of the economy were made in the public interest.
"I support the petition to bring Clydeport into public ownership and I am happy to speak in favour when it is brought to committee at the Scottish Parliament.”
Among the parent companies of Peel Ports are firms registered in the Cayman Islands and Isle of Man, and the company has received £9.4 million as part of the Glasgow City Region Deal.
Peel Ports Clydeport boss Jim McSporran failed to mention Inchgreen after the Telegraph asked him to comment on the Inchgreen petition and the statement from Ms Clark.
Mr McSporran said: “Our programme of investment into Clydeport will continue and we remain fully committed to enabling business opportunities, while creating quality jobs and supporting growth for the local and regional economies across the west coast of Scotland.”
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