MORE than £75,000 will go towards transport improvement projects in Inverclyde following a recent round of funding awards.

The money, allocated from a £1.2m Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) pot, will support three organisations in the district with their aims to improve accessibility, affordability, availability and connectivity in the area, as well as reducing carbon emissions and promoting active travel.

Members of SPT's operations committee agreed at a meeting to give almost £31k to Ardgowan Hospice for the charity's volunteer car scheme, which provides transport to hospitals in the NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde region for cancer treatment and outpatient hospices for Inverclyde residents.

Inverclyde Voluntary Council of Social Services, which connects charities and voluntary groups, received up to £25,000, while Port Glasgow Voluntary Trans-Port Group, which provides adapted minibuses to accommodate wheelchair passengers, received up to £20,360.

Councillor David Wilson, chair of SPT’s operations committee and a local elected member, said: “Despite significant cuts to SPT’s funding this year, we recognise the vital contribution that community transport operators deliver to local communities and voluntary groups, particularly the elderly, disabled and those on low incomes.

"Without it, it would be much more challenging for the disadvantaged and more vulnerable groups to access goods, services and facilities within their local communities.

“Our investment programme will ensure communities, residents and businesses across Inverclyde can share in the benefits of improved public transport and active travel.

“We are proud to announce this funding, and look forward to working with the local authority and others to progress these projects and deliver transport improvements across the region.”