Contractor to be appointed for demolition of former primary school and 140 flats in Port Glasgow

Inverclyde Council will shortly appoint a contractor to carry out the demolition of a former primary school, church and almost 140 flats in a notorious Port Glasgow estate.

The local authority has already received listed building consent to knock down the old Clune Park Primary School and church, while dangerous building notices have been served on 138 properties.

The school, church and flat have all been affected by fires and antisocial behaviour in recent years, with members of the public now urged to stay away from the area.

An update was provided on the regeneration project in a report to the council’s environment and regeneration committee on Thursday.

It said: “Dangerous building notices were served on 138 properties across 15 tenement blocks of flats in the Clune Park estate on July 16.

“All dangerous building notices have an appeal deadline of Tuesday, August 6, to appeal the council’s enforcement action to the Sheriff Court.

“In addition to the dangerous building notices served on the flats, notices remain extant for the former Clune Park Church and primary school.

“Both buildings have also recently received approval from the planning department allowing for demolition of the buildings with listed building consent to demolish now granted.

“Tenders are currently being sought for the demolition of the flats, school and church as outlined above.

“The Clune Park estate remains under investigation with further surveys ongoing of other potentially dangerous buildings.

“The estate remains under supervision with CCTV, extra community warden patrols and new security fencing erected to deter entry by members of the public.”

Labour’s Councillor Michael McCormick, committee convener, said: “This is a significant milestone for Clune Park and one that I’m sure will be welcomed by the majority of people in Inverclyde and particularly Port Glasgow residents.

“The council has a legal duty to ensure buildings across Inverclyde are safe and properly maintained and a responsibility to act accordingly if and when properties do not meet the necessary standards.

“Following extensive checks by our own building standards team and external surveyors, dangerous buildings notices were served on an initial 138 properties and with no appeals having been received, a demolition contractor will now be appointed to demolish these residential properties, if these works are not carried out by the owners, as well as the former school and church, which are in the council’s ownership.

“While progress to regenerate Clune Park has been incredibly difficult, a huge amount of work has been taking place in the background and I would like to thank all involved for their extensive and diligent work.”