CCTV

Yesterday, my council colleagues Paul Cassidy and David Wilson and the Inverclyde police commander, Chief Inspector David Doherty, welcomed the Greenock Telegraph to Greenock Police Station to view the new CCTV system that has been recently installed.

Thanks to investment from the council, we now have a much more reliable and modern CCTV system that will not only serve as a deterrent for crime, particularly in our town centres, but will also assist with tracing missing people and preventing harm.

The investment in the new system will also help deliver savings in the long run as it is a cheaper system to run due to it being more technologically advanced.

There is a network of more than 50 cameras across Inverclyde, including mobile camera units that can be deployed to areas as and when required to provide reassurance and resilience.

West Blackhall Street improvements

On Monday, work started on the next phase of the West Blackhall Street redevelopment project.

This second phase will focus on improving the road surface by lifting and resetting the cobbles, creating a new active travel route to encourage more travel by bike, on foot, or by wheel, installing new crossing points, and adding road markings.

Much has been said and written about the project – good and bad.

However, one thing that everyone agreed with is that West Blackhall Street was looking tired, was not fit for purpose and something had to be done.

(Image: George Munro)

The council has stepped up and is trying to deliver positive change.

The council doesn’t own most of the shop units along West Blackhall Street so we can’t wave a magic wand and fill them.

We’re also, as a society, in a digital age with online shopping competing with traditional high streets.

What the council is responsible for is the environment – roads, pavements, and other public spaces – and the West Blackhall Street project seeks to make improvements to the environment so that the area is more attractive place to live, work, visit, and do business for new and existing residents and businesses.

Egypt Gallery

With a few weeks of the school summer holidays still to go, why not visit the Watt Institution and check out some of the new and much-loved displays and exhibitions.

(Image: George Munro)

Last week, my colleague Jim Clocherty helped launch the new Egypt Gallery which brings some of the museum’s famous ancient Egypt collection into a new, modern light.

The best bit is you don’t have to have the pockets of an Egyptian Pharoah because it’s free entry at the Watt Institution.