ONE of the candidates standing in the Gourock by-election this week has come up with a plan to transform a section of road which he says will reduce traffic congestion in a notoriously busy part of Inverclyde. 

John Burleigh, who is representing Reform UK, wants to see Eldon Street at Battery Park widened and split into two separate roads, with a barrier added in between. 

John says his plan will allow traffic from Newark Street to filter down onto Manor Crescent, and all traffic from Cardwell Road and Cove Road will go to and from Eldon Street. 

The Reform UK candidate also wants to see the channelised junction at Cardwell Road/Larkfield Road/Broomberry Drive/Chapel Street removed. 

Mr Burleigh said his ideas for transforming roads in the area have evolved from speaking to local people. 

He said: "As a candidate, I have listened to my constituents about the issues that are important to them. 

"The congestion in that part of the road at rush hour is terrible and there are always long queues on Eldon Street. 

"I'm taking a stance to try to improve transport links and reduce congestion. 

"I believe these small changes would make a big difference to the traffic around Battery Park."

(Image: George Munro) Mr Burleigh proposes channelling traffic from Eldon Street onto Cardwell Road and Cove Road, and filtering vehicles from Newark Street onto Manor Crescent by widening Eldon Street and adding a barrier. 

He said: "The road is 19 metres wide so it could easily be split into two distinct roads. 

"The pavement at the Battery Park side would be removed, and the existing section of grass at the side could be made into a car park. 

"It will only be about 200 yards. 

"No traffic lights will be necessary, only pedestrian crossings.

"It needn't be expensive, and I think it would really help."

Mr Burleigh said removing the channelised junction further along Cardwell Road will help to ease traffic congestion in the area even further. 

(Image: George Munro) He proposes joining Cardwell Road to Chapel Street only, and Broomberry Drive to Larkfield Road only.

Mr Burleigh added: "There are many side streets to connect to these main streets, so journeys may even be shorter."

The Reform UK candidate has also suggested adding a 'relief' road to improve connectivity between housing estates, and ease ferry traffic. 

He added: "There's no connectivity between Castle Levanne, Faulds Park, and Trumpethill at the moment. 

"Drivers all have to come down on to the main road. 

"If a road was added from Earnhill Road to Faulds Park Road, not going through housing estates, it would be a relief road for Cloch Road and the ferry terminal. 

"I think that all of these changes together will help to reduce traffic in these areas."

Mr Burleigh is one of five candidates standing in this Thursday's Inverclyde West by-election: the others, in alphabetical order by first name, are Chris McEleny (Alba), Ian Hellyer (Labour), Robert Kirkpatrick (SNP), and Ted Runciman (Conservative).

Polling stations in the ward are open from 7am until 10pm on Thursday, and the counting of votes will begin at the Municipal Buildings in Greenock from 10am on Friday.