AMAZON bosses have been branded shameful after confirming they will close their distribution centre in Gourock and leave over 300 people on the scrapheap.

It was revealed in January they were planning to shut the Faulds Park site after 19 years, with a 'consultation' launched on the proposal.

Sceptical staff, politicians and employment advocacy experts cast doubt on that exercise and now Amazon - which has collected more than £2m of public money for the site over the years - has confirmed it will shut.

It could close as soon as mid-March.

The company wrote to MSP Paul O'Kane and Gourock councillor Martin McCluskey - who had lobbied the firm in a bid to keep the premises open - confirming that the fate of the 'fulfilment centre' and its hard-working staff had been sealed.

The letter stated: 'This period of collective consultation has now closed and we have communicated to our employees our decision to close the site at Faulds Park in Gourock and move to individual consultation.'

Councillor McCluskey today condemned the company's conduct.

He said: “The meeting we had with Amazon in January was probably the worst I have ever attended with a business.

"They seemed to show little regard for the workforce - if they had they would have been able to answer the basic questions we put to them.

"Instead, it has taken a month for them to reply with a threadbare response.

"The way in which the dedicated Gourock workforce has been treated is appalling, and their disregard for the taxpayers who provided support for this facility is a complete slap in the face.

"The management of Amazon should be ashamed of themselves."

Amazon HQ insist they are 'prioritising the provision of support to our employees during what we appreciate is an uncertain time for them'.

They added: 'Their welfare is our highest priority and we are doing everything possible to meet their needs.

'The decision to close our Fulfilment Centre in Gourock follows a period of extensive engagement and consultation during which we have fully engaged employee representatives in detailed discussion about the reasons behind the proposal.

'We have also given full consideration to alternative suggestions that have been tabled to avoid closure and responded to a range of questions.'

The company has said that its 300+ staff would have the opportunity to move to another centre, but with the nearest one on the east coast they have admitted 'there will be limited opportunities available in Scotland and relocation will not be a viable option for some.'

The company says it will offer an enhanced redundancy package which will be discussed with staff during individual meetings.

They have pledged to offer them a range of training, re-skilling and development programmes and say they are working closely with the Scottish Government, Partnership for Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) and Skills Development Scotland to help find other employment for them, while keeping in 'direct contact' with other local employers who may have openings.

Katherine Mercer, Amazon's head of public policy for UK operations, told Cllr McCluskey and MSP Mr O'Kane the decision to close was driven by the unsuitability of the site from a technology point of view.

The online retail giant has already announced it will build new bases in Peddimore, West Midlands, and Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham.

Ms Mercer wrote: 'Regrettably we cannot enhance the existing Fulfilment Centre in Gourock.

'Newer robotics sites are built to specific specifications and it is not possible or economically viable to retrofit older sites to meet them.'

MSP Mr O’Kane says staff at the centre have been badly let down.

He said: “Other than confirming their intention to close, Amazon doesn’t have any answers, or regard for that matter, for Inverclyde.

“Yet again Amazon cite their offer for staff to move elsewhere but this won’t be an option for the majority of the workforce in Gourock.

“The workers and the wider community in Inverclyde need reassurances about the future but sadly Amazon doesn’t sound interested in giving them that.”