CYCLISTS are pushing for a new off road track in Greenock to be part of a 'multi-sport hub' and bring more youngsters into their sport.

Members of local cycling group Inverclyde Velo are asking the council to consider incorporating a one and a half kilometre cycle track into their plans for Rankin Park in Greenock, which already has football pitches, a a BMX course and sits adjacent to the bowling club.

A £1.8m indoor tennis centre is to be built on the site, with the project being led by the local authority and Inverclyde Leisure with support from sportscotland, the Lawn Tennis Association and Tennis Scotland.

The cyclists believe that a new track would bring more people along to the nearby BMX course which was opened in 2016 after a £240k investment.

Gavin Morrison, a member of Inverclyde Velo, said: "We want more young people to be out there on their bikes and if we had a safe cycling facility where parents could bring their kids along that would really help the sport.

"It's great that we have so many football, tennis and rugby facilities around here, but some kids would prefer other kinds of sports.

"Our vision would be to have some sort of flat, safe circuit that included a variety of straights and bends for kids to learn on.

"It would be great to see the council looking into this to see if there's funding available.

"Hopefully in the future this could be a multi-sport hub for the people of Inverclyde.

"We know it's not an easy ask, you can't just expect someone to build it tomorrow.

"But I think if we look at what we could have here in five or ten years time would be of massive benefit for young people and adults in the community."

The cyclists say there would be enough space for a track of around one to one and a half kilometres near the new tennis centre, giving youngsters the opportunity to get into road cycling without putting themselves in danger.

David Campbell, another Inverclyde Velo member, told the Tele that it would make parents feel more secure about sending their kids out to cycle with the club.

He added: "At the moment there's a leap of faith for any parents who are asking Inverclyde Velo to take their kids out on the road.

"It's definitely holding parents back from sending their kids along with us.

"It would be much better to have a facility where they could develop their skills off road."

In response to the club's call, an Inverclyde Council spokesperson said that indoor and outdoor facilities in Inverclyde had seen 'massive' investment in recent years.

They added: "We will also soon be launching the Active Inverclyde strategy which aims to bring the wider sport and leisure community together.

"We would love to have Inverclyde Velo involved with that and we will be in touch with them directly.”