NOVEMBER 18, 2008: PLANS to secure £20 million of funding to regenerate one of Inverclyde’s most rundown areas were moving a step closer.

Communities minister Stewart Maxwell visited Clune Park to survey the 50-year-old housing stock — much of which has been condemned as below the minimum standard for habitation.

Locals hope plans to demolish the 420 homes and replace them with modern properties can help restore community spirit to the area.

The minister was taken on a walk round some of Clune Park’s most dilapidated properties to allow him to see first-hand the urgent need for regeneration.

His visit to Port Glasgow was arranged by ward councillor Jim MacLeod, who said: “I approached Mr Maxwell last year about this matter and it was good to finally get him down to Clune Park.

“I was brought up here and it was a great place to live but sadly it has been allowed to decay in the last 15 years.”

(Image: Newsquest)

The area was set to become the first in Scotland to be given Housing Renewal Area status following a survey in Robert Street in 2006 that found a significant number of houses in the area to be below standard.

Resident Bill Burns, who has lived in Clune Park for 50 years, said: “This used to be a great place to live and thankfully a lot of the community spirit is still in place but massive investment is needed to bring it back to what it once was.”

Jane Allen, secretary of Clune Park Tenants’ and Residents’ Association, said: “There are decent people here and they deserve a decent place to live.

“On one side we have Woodhall being regenerated, while money is being spent on Port Glasgow town centre.

“We are sitting right in the middle and nobody is investing in our future.”