ONE of Greenock town centre's busiest hubs has been given a £40,000 facelift as part of a wider regeneration project.

Greenock Telegraph:

The West Stewart Street centre has benefited from a clean up and has been freshly painted as part of a series of planned upgrades.

It is part of an overall plan by led by ward councillors Jim Clocherty and Francesca Brennan, as part of the town centre regeneration forum, to breathe new life into the area.

Investing in the town centre was pledged as a priority by both councillors during the election campaign last year.

They also want improvements at the Oak Mall and on West Blackhall Street.

Councillor Clocherty, chair of the regeneration forum, said: "With the bus station in West Stewart Street this is one of the first places people see when they come in to the town centre.

"It is very much a gateway to Greenock.

"It is important that we invest in this area. We are now looking forward to work starting on West Blackhall Street.

"We are also delighted with SPT's investment in the town centre."

West Stewart Street centre is a busy shopping arcade but has been plagued with anti-social behaviour and vandalism.

Last year SPT hit out when the bus station was targeted and the area has been a priority for the council and its partners including SPT and the police.

It is hoped that the £40,000 clean-up will create a better experience for shoppers and businesses.

Underpasses in the town have also been upgraded over the last year.

This will be followed by the long-awaited major upgrades to West Blackhall Street.

Councillor Brennan said: "This is part of a wider plan for regeneration and something that we are very much focused on.

"There will be information shared with shoppers in the Oak Mall about what we are doing in the town centre.

"There are so many people from different areas who use our town centre and we have to make it a positive experience."