INVERCLYDE Council say they are in the final stages of planning for an upcoming by-election in Gourock, with a date due to be announced in the near future. 

Martin McCluskey resigned from his role as a Gourock councillor at the start of September following his election to Westminster in July. 

The move means that Inverclyde Council now has just three months to organise a by-election for his empty seat.

The local authority has today confirmed that a date for the by-election will be scheduled in the near future and that final plans are now being made. 

An Inverclyde Council spokesperson said: “We are finalising plans for the Ward 5 -  Inverclyde West by-election and a date for the by-election will be announced in due course when the Notice of By-Election is published.”