COUNCIL bosses are seeking the public’s views on how best to use a £20m pot of cash set aside to support projects that will regenerate Greenock.

Greenock is one of seven areas in Scotland that was allocated funding as part of the UK Government’s Long-Term Plan for Towns Fund in 2023.

A town board has since been set up to devise plans for the area based on the priorities of local people and will receive a £20m ‘endowment-style’ fund and support over a ten-year period to deliver these projects.

Fears had been expressed that the funding could be cut by the Labour government in a bid to plug a £22 billion gap in the public's finances. 

But the Scotland Office confirmed last week that money set aside for Greenock and other towns across Scotland remained part of its spending plans.

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The town board has identified four key areas of investment, which are business and enterprise support, re-connecting the town centre, public realm investment and small community project funding.

They are asking locals to give their views on which of the projects should be prioritised for inclusion in their final plan and are encouraging anyone with additional ideas to get in touch.

Consultation documents state that the business and enterprise support investment would ‘provide a catalyst for change that supports new opportunities, connects business and enterprise, promotes investment and supports learning, skills development’.

Among the suggested projects are the creation of a business support programme to encourage small business investment and respond to closures, and the development of an enterprise hub which could provide informal entrepreneurial guidance.

The development of a youth opportunity programme is also mooted as a potential project.

The plans to re-connect Greenock town centre would involve building on the upcoming £20m levelling up project, which will see the bullring roundabout demolished.

The £20m funding is set to build on cash already committed to Greenock through 'levelling up' funds which will see the town's Bullring roundabout demolished.The £20m funding is set to build on cash already committed to Greenock through 'levelling up' funds which will see the town's Bullring roundabout demolished. Ideas such as making town centre pedestrian routes more accessible, introducing a town centre signing and wayfinding scheme, strengthening the active travel and cycle network routes, and improving the accessibility of bus and rail stations are among those the public are being asked to consider.

In terms of public realm investment, it is suggested that better lighting, seating and tree planting could be used to enhance the town’s ‘small spaces’, such as Wallace Place and George Square.

Other initiatives about which people’s views are being sought include the development of a town dressing programme to make the town centre more attractive through seasonable displays and the celebration of the town’s history through a new town centre arts and heritage trail.

The creation of a fund to support town centre events is also suggested.

Small community project funding would entail supporting local community organisations, sports and heritage groups, facilities and services.

Potential project ideas include providing small grants support to help communities get local projects delivered, improving play space facilities in the town centre and investing in improvements to town centre improvements such as the Greenock Central Library.

Those interested in giving their feedback on the plans or finding out more about them should visit https://tinyurl.com/2wdktdbu.