Plans drawn up for five new cycle lanes across Inverclyde

Local authority chiefs have appointed consultants to carry out feasibility design work for five proposed new paths at various locations across the district.

One of them would connect Inverkip to Branchton, with another major route proposed for Greenock town centre to Branchton.

A link is also being explored between Port Glasgow's railway station to the town's Coronation Park.

A lane between Lynedoch Street in Greenock and the A78 is also under consideration, while a stretch of Gourock's Albert Road is also being looked at as another possible site.

Details of the new schemes come as a public consultation separately continues on a proposed cycle path between Overton and the centre of Greenock.

Meanwhile detailed design works are already on track for two other lanes, from Tarbet Street in Gourock along to Battery Park and from Douglas Rae Road at James Watt Dock to Bogston.

Council bosses are working in partnership with active travel organisation Sustrans on the proposed cycle lane network and £350k has already been secured to upgrade the existing track from Lady Octavia in the east end of Greenock to Dubbs Road in the Port.

The agreed project there will see the track widened to three metres and a new surface will be laid on top of the current one.

It is hoped that work could start on the scheme this month, with lighting on the stretch between Lady Octavia and Devol Glen already finished.

Meanwhile a feasibility study is also under way on a new active travel link which would connect Inverkip and Largs.

In October a £250k new lane was unveiled in Port Glasgow at Ardgowan Street.

A waterfront route between the Beacon Arts Centre and Cartsburn in Greenock was also completed last year at a cost of £150,000.

Details of the proposed new cycle lanes will be presented to councillors later this month at a meeting of the environment and regeneration committee.