Row erupts over 'theft' of Inchgreen Dry Dock campaign banners

Activists won planning permission in 2019 to display large roadside messages demanding jobs at the site but Clydeport took them down last weekend.

It later emerged that the Campaign to Save Inchgreen Dry Dock reported the material as stolen to the police.

Campaign secretary Robert Buirds said the signage, which cost £1,000 to produce, had been removed without prior notice.

Mr Buirds said that four banners stating 'Inverclyde needs jobs' and directing passers-by to follow the group on social media had been 'removed without our permission' and the alleged 'theft' had been reported to Police Scotland.

The campaign banners have been in place since 2019 (Image: Street View)

In an angry email exchange, which the Telegraph was copied into along with dozens of politicians including First Minister Humza Yousaf, Mr Buirds said: "We are getting used to being undermined and ignored by officialdom but this showed a total contempt.

"Obviously they wish we would disappear and they could return to their cushy lifestyle, unchallenged for their failures."

The campaigner told the Tele: "I had no contact from Peel Ports [Clydeport] or the council regarding the banners being removed.

"We had planning permission for the site.

"I have asked for the £220 [planning] fee to be returned by Peel Ports or Inchgreen Marine Park Ltd, but I've heard nothing yet."

READ MORE: The Tele asks: 'Why has Inchgreen Dry Dock lain empty for nearly 20 years?'

A spokesperson for Clydeport said: “We have replaced some of the fencing across Inchgreen as part of the planned development and regeneration works, as it is our responsibility to ensure the site remains secure.

“Banners and any materials attached to the old fences and billboards were carefully removed in order to install the new fencing, and these were returned to their owners.”

Mr Buirds said no further action was required from Police Scotland as the banners had arrived at his home by the time an officer called on Saturday afternoon.

Inchgreen Dry Dock

Multi-million-pound work to develop the wider Inchgreen site is ongoing, however, the dry dock has lain empty for years after failed attempts by a fledgling ship scrappage firm to secure any vessels for decommissioning.

The Campaign to Save Inchgreen Dry Dock have had a petition - calling for the nationalisation of Clydeport and the compulsory purchase of the site - heard at a Holyrood committee meeting.

However, their demands have so far been rebutted by the Scottish Government, who said they have 'no plans to explore compulsorily purchasing, revoking the powers of, or nationalising Clydeport'.

The campaign group was granted permission by Inverclyde Council in April 2019 for the siting of banners on a wooden fence beside Port Glasgow Road for five years.