THE LibDems are fielding just three candidates in the council election - after running the local authority with 13 up until 2007.

The party's local branch says it intends to focus its campaigning on three 'target wards' ahead of next month's crucial poll.

They hope this could put them in a position to hold the balance of power in the council chambers after May.

The party says that voters are 'turning away from the big two parties and looking for action on local issues' following 15 years of local Labour control and 15 years of SNP government at Holyrood.

Alasdair Higgins will stand in Ward 6 Inverclyde South West, Dr Jacci Stoyle will contend in Ward 4 Greenock West & Central and John Burleigh will be the candidate for Ward 5 Gourock.

Mr Higgins is chair of the local Inchgreen Dry Dock campaign which aims to regenerate Inverclyde’s waterfront and he will also highlight issues with the local traffic network.

He said: “I have always strongly supported Inverclyde making full economic use of our local waterfront.

“Traffic congestion and pressure on local roads has been a big problem in Inverkip, Wemyss Bay and south west Greenock.

"Residents are concerned about the pressure on local services caused by new developments.

"We need proper traffic planning and investment in public services. ”

Ms Stoyle, who has lived in Inverclyde since 1997, was the local LibDem candidate in last year's Scottish Parliament election and for the UK general election of 2019.

She has campaigned alongside veteran outgoing elected member Ciano Rebecchi on a variety of NHS issues and promoted the environmental agenda locally, successfully lobbying for a ban on plastic bottles in public buildings across the district.

Dr Stoyle said: “I have campaigned against the loss of services such as the out-of-hours GP facilities, intensive care beds at Inverclyde Royal Hospital and the amenities at the pain clinic.

"I have also been concerned with the lack of face-to-face GP appointments, long ambulance waits and access to defibrillators.

"All of these service cuts have happened while our local SNP MSP says that an independence referendum is the top priority - not our NHS."

She added: “I also want to see Inverclyde work towards the goal of becoming the green capital of Scotland.

"We must take steps to clean up our community."

Mr Burleigh, who has lived locally for more than 30 years, formerly worked as a secondary school technical teacher for 20 years before his retirement.

During the past 15 years he has been a voluntary Port chaplain and he stood as an independent in last year's Holyrood election.

He said: “For too long Inverclyde has failed to fully realise the potential of the waterfront.

"I want to see our council drive forward new ideas and fresh thinking in this area.

"We can bring economic recovery - through tourism, trade and transport links.”