A COMPANY with advanced plans to bring a unique 143-year-old ship home to Inverclyde has accused council chiefs of 'small mindedness' and 'hypocrisy'.

Falls of Clyde International Ltd hit out at the local authority over an apparent rejection of its vision to dock and rebuild the vessel in Greenock and create a maritime heritage village.

Boss David O'Neill told the Telegraph he has reached agreement with port chiefs in Hawaii — where the ship has been since 1963 — and he will take ownership of her early in the new year.

But Mr O'Neill says that Municipal Buildings officials here have told him that any planning application to have Falls of Clyde at Greenock's Victoria Harbour is likely to be refused.

He said: "The council rejected us because the plan to rebuild the hull is seen as an industrial application, which they say is not acceptable on that site.

"We have overcome many obstacles but it seems the only thing we can't overcome is the small mindedness of Inverclyde Council.

"They told us we couldn't do it because it would be an industrial application, yet less than a mile up the road at Inchgreen Dry Dock they've greenlighted a ship scrappage operation.

"What hypocrisy."

Falls Of Clyde was built in 1878 at Russell and Co's yard in Port Glasgow and was the first of eight bespoke ships, finishing her career as a sail driven oil tanker.

Her seven sister vessels were either lost during the two world wars or at sea after succumbing to storms, leaving her as the only surviving iron-hulled four masted ship.

Mr O'Neill says he has also secured agreement with the Pakistani government to bring a Clydebuilt former Royal Navy frigate, HMS Ambuscade, to Greenock as well.

Falls of Clyde International Ltd intend to create a 'multi-functioning heritage village' accommodating restoration of the ship and also turning HMS Ambuscade into a floating museum.

Inverclyde is the preferred option but the company says it has received positive responses from officialdom elsewhere, at Govan and Stranraer.

Mr O'Neill — who has also held discussions with Peel Land and Property, who control the harbour — said: "The authorities in Hawaii told us three weeks ago that we are the preferred bidder.

"For me, Greenock is where Falls of Clyde belongs."

He added that scores of jobs would be created and that the overall attraction would bring in nearly 400,000 visitors a year.

Mr O'Neill said: "The ship will be handed over to us in early January and then we have 190 days to remove her from Honolulu.

"If councillors do not see what this project is worth to Inverclyde then they don't deserve to be in the job.

"This project is happening, it's just a question of whether it happens in Inverclyde."

Brian Lavalette, property director — Scotland, Peel L&P said: "We're aware of Mr O'Neill's Falls of Clyde plans and advised him to discuss with Inverclyde Council before any detailed discussions could take place to ensure they follow planning policy and the vision for the harbours."

An Inverclyde Council spokesman said: "Pre-planning discussions are a normal part of the planning process allowing applicants to seek advice from planning officers about potential local developments.

"Any proposal, no matter how worthy or exciting, still needs to comply fully with planning law and policy and our planners, like those right across the country, will always try to support people and organisations who approach them for guidance.

"Clearly there are challenges with such a hugely ambitious project that will require significant private investment but, as we've said before, bringing the Falls of Clyde back to Scotland is a truly exciting project and would be a great addition to the maritime offering on the Clyde and could serve as a showpiece of Scottish shipbuilding."