SENIOR politicians are demanding urgent action over the future of Greenock's crumbling jail - after the chief inspector of prisons said it should be bulldozed.

Council leader Stephen McCabe and West of Scotland MSP Katy Clark are both backing calls for a new prison to replace it.

Their calls come after watchdog Wendy Sinclair-Gieben, who was speaking before the Public Audit Committee at Holyrood, said that the Gateside building, which opened in 1910, was no longer fit for purpose.

She stated: "Barlinnie is overcrowded, I think Barlinnie is at risk of catastrophic failure, you’ve got Greenock which, frankly, should be bulldozed."

Despite the remarks, Scottish Government justice secretary Angela Constance has said that a replacement would not be even considered until 2025/2026.

Mr McCabe said he had been fighting for several years for a new prison to be built locally. Plans for a new HMP Inverclyde on land just off the A78 in Greenock were shelved in 2015.

Greenock Telegraph:

He said: "I have been regularly lobbying successive cabinet secretaries for justice since the project for the new HMP Inverclyde was put on hold, pressing them for a firm timescale for HMP Greenock. 

"I share the concerns of the Chief Inspector of Prisons. It has been clear for many years now that the existing prison is beyond its useful life and needs to be replaced with a new prison as a matter of urgency."

His Labour colleague, west Scotland MSP Ms Clark says immediate action is required.

She said: "The inspector’s comments are another reminder of why replacing 113-year-old Greenock Prison is so urgent. 

"Several cells are unfit for human habitation and there are a number of leaks and ventilation issues which cannot simply be fixed quickly with small renovations.

“However, the building must be re-purposed in the long term rather than bulldozed. I believe there is consensus for the construction of a replacement prison in Inverclyde, with all staff retained.

“As it stands, the Scottish Government has confirmed to me that such a project will not take place until after 2025-26 at the very earliest. 

"Given working conditions are described as ‘almost impossible’, I believe it is time the Scottish Government addressed this problem with the seriousness it deserves.”

While Ms Sinclair-Gieben has condemned the fabric of the building, she has poured praise on its staff, saying it is 'one of the best prisons' she had inspected.

She added: “Their staff-prisoner relationships are superb, the community relationships are superb, health is good.

“There are many, many aspects of Greenock prison that I think are really wonderful.

“I would love to see another Greenock, that is fit for purpose, because [HMP] Greenock isn’t – it costs a fortune to maintain, it has water ingress, it has real issues.”