A PROPOSED action plan for improving Greenock’s town centre has been revealed – as the appointment of a contractor for a major £20m regeneration project looms.

Inverclyde Council is seeking the public’s views on a proposed action plan for the area which includes plans to improve bus and rail facilities and create a new heritage trail.

The consultation documents also give further information about the progress of a number of massive local projects which are being funded through the UK Government’s Levelling Up initiative.

A contractor is due to be appointed soon to deliver the large-scale scheme, which includes major road and public realm changes, as well as the demolition of around 40 per cent of the Oak Mall.

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The update states: “The Greenock Central project will re-establish a vibrant mixed-use town centre created through the restructuring of the Oak Mall Shopping Centre and A8/A78 Trunk Road transport infrastructure re-connecting the central core of the town centre.

“This will create a safer and more attractive town centre retaining Clyde Square and connecting the east and west of the town with a more traditional pattern of streets, squares and quality public realm.”

It continues: “The project is being brought forward by Inverclyde Council, in close partnership with Comer (the owners of the Oak Mall) and Transport Scotland.

“The project is progressing towards the appointment of contractors who will be advancing the delivery of the project.

“The funding award requires all grant funding to be spent by early 2026. The programme has a tight timescale and requires detailed phasing and temporary diversion routes, to be clearly communicated in due course.”

The changes would see the A78 flyover brought down to ground level and the Bullring roundabout replace with a new crossroads with traffic lights.

A range of other improvements – which are not related to the Levelling Up initiative - are also outlined in the documents.

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Plans for more town centre parks, greenspace and play areas, proposals to support ’20 minute neighbourhoods’ and the creations of a new heritage trail are among the ideas outlined.

Other proposals include improving safe pedestrian access throughout the town, adding better signage and waymarking, enhancing lighting and security measures such as CCTV cameras in the town centre, restoring historic buildings, improving safety and disabled access, adding more active travel connections, promoting a variety of uses for town centre units and adding more additional retail, leisure and tourism uses.

Proposals to establish an enterprise and business start-up centre are also detailed.