COUNCIL bosses are preparing a bold bid for £20m of UK Government cash to totally transform Greenock town centre.

The Tele understands that officials have drawn up a blueprint for a radical overhaul which would represent the biggest changes to the heart of the town in many decades.

It's believed that they include the A78 flyover being removed, with both the trunk road and Bullring car park going to ground level, the demolition of a large part of the Oak Mall shopping centre and bulldozing of Hector McNeil House - the old library building which is now home to the health and social care partnership.

This would also mean that the row of commercial properties underneath it in Clyde Square would disappear.

The local authority is hoping to snap up a share of the UK Government's Levelling Up funding to regenerate the heart of town.

Inverclyde Council today confirmed that they were submitting a bid to the scheme and said people would be able to have their say on the proposals.

A spokesperson for the local authority said: “We are committed to bidding for funding from the UK Government Levelling Up Fund.

“Proposals will go to full public consultation which will be launched at a later date.”

Land freed up by the proposed large-scale demolition works could be earmarked for housing development.

But it's believed that using the cleared site for the new West College Scotland campus in Greenock has also been mooted by Municipal Buildings insiders, should the current proposed site on the waterfront prove unsuitable.

It is hoped that the major revamp would bring more people into the town centre.

A new entrance to it would be created off the Bullring roundabout and new access to the Oak Mall would also be established.

There are also plans for a new civic space and 'cultural quarter' at the other end of the town centre, utilising the Tobacco Warehouse and Glebe Building.

All of the proposals would require formal approval from the new council which will be elected next month, ahead of the formal funding bid being submitted in July.

Inverclyde Council leader Stephen McCabe told the Tele that the town centre was a 'high priority' for the local authority, but declined to confirm any details of the bid.

Mr McCabe said: “I can confirm that the council is preparing a substantial bid for funding from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund Round 2, which seeks to target investment at projects involving transport, regeneration and town centres and cultural activities.

"I am not able to disclose the full details of the proposals due to commercial sensitivities and ongoing consultation with interested parties but it is no secret that investment in Greenock town centre is a high priority for the council."