CAMPAIGNERS fighting to give Inverclyde its 'industrial pride back' are demanding a council-led investigation into what they have branded as Peel Group's 'abysmal' stewardship of Greenock's harbours.

They want a root and branch probe into the level of investment by Peel — and the amount of grant money the company has received — since taking over the facilities nearly 17 years ago.

In a strongly worded submission to Municipal Buildings bosses, the Campaign to Save Inchgreen Dry Dock says that Peel Group's 'total contribution' has been the Tail O' The Bank pub and restaurant.

It has called for the company to be stripped of its 125-year lease on the town's waterfront infrastructure.

The pressure group said: "Industrial development of our harbours has been abysmal.

"There has been no promotion of the facilities to attract other marine or industrial companies and developers.

"A pub/restaurant has been the Peel Group's total contribution.

"They destroyed the Lamont industrial marine facilities and filled in the dry docks (which could be reinstated) thus removing a business opportunity.

"The 125-year lease should be removed from the Peel Group immediately as they have been a complete failure and are only interested in profitable housing developments."

The pressure group — in an 1,100-word document to the council — adds: "The council should commission an investigation and produce a report on the amount of investment made by the Peel Group and the grants received during their ownership of the James Watt, Garvel Island, the Great Harbour, Victoria and East India harbours and Inchgreen since 2004.

"The report would assist the development of an industrial strategy for our waterfront and would clarify why there has been a stagnation of industrial development."

The campaign group has welcomed a proposed new college campus at East India Harbour, stating that this 'would help consolidate and promote our vocational training base and assist the development of marine engineering and shipbuilding trades'.

Director of Peel Group's land and property division (Peel L&P) Brian Lavalette says he also supports the new facility.

He added: "We are in complete support of introducing a college facility to the East India area of Greenock Harbour and have been involved in and assisted talks to bring the proposals forward and hopefully bring it to the area.

"The area where we would like to see the college come to fruition is currently zoned for residential within the local development plan. The zone is flexible dependent on the outcome of the site, final size of the college and could also include some residential dwellings alongside.

"The creation of the college will mean we can create a mixed-use environment on the harbour and breathe new life for people to live, study and play.

"Greenock Harbour, in which we share the land ownership with Riverside Inverclyde, has benefitted from a pub restaurant, theatre and improved infrastructure in recent years and it is our aim, with the support of the council's local development plan, to continue to develop this for its most suitable purpose."

Greenock Harbour is owned and managed under a partnership agreement between Peel L&P and Riverside Inverclyde.

An Inverclyde Council spokesman said: "Peel Group is involved in a number of sites in Inverclyde.

"It is a private company and therefore the council cannot require it to publish confidential investment decisions.

"This is the same for all private companies.

"Where public grants have been provided to Peel Group, they are fully transparent and already in the public domain."