Latest news with #InverclydeCouncil
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Couple win long-running battle to keep £20k summer house in their garden... by moving it by one metre
A couple have won a year-long battle with their local council to keep their £20,000 summer house - after shifting it one metre. Martin Keyes and Catherine Curran locked horns with local planners over their garden retreat after receiving a letter telling them it had to come down. The pair, from Greenock on the west coast of Scotland, applied for retrospective planning permission but were told by Inverclyde Council to remove the hut. Having been told it was 'too big' and too close to a neighbouring house, despite receiving no complaints, the couple appealed - but lost after councillors conducted a site visit. They've since found a way around the demolition order, paying more money above and beyond the £20k they've spent on the house to shimmy it a metre over. Mr Keyes and Ms Curran now say they plan to enjoy their summer house, with a guarantee of no further disturbances from prying planners. They've even renamed it 'Victory Bar' in recognition of their win over the meddling local authority. Mr Keyes, of nearby Glasgow, said: 'To be honest I think it is less private than before but we did what they wanted. 'Now we are looking forward to enjoying our summer house. We are just waiting for the official paperwork. 'But we were never going to be forced to tear it down. That was not an option. 'We decided to call it Victory Bar, because it is still standing. I can't wait to enjoy more nights in our summer house now it is finally safe.' Last year, the couple were told that retrospective planning permission had been refused nearly four years after it was built. Officials said it was 'not acceptable' in terms of its scale and size, and had a 'detrimental impact' on neighbouring properties despite no objections being filed. At the time the couple said that they would refuse to tear it down and lodged an appeal. Following a site visit by members of the local review body, the decision was taken to refuse an appeal. Mr Keyes could not attend the hearing as he was working a night shift. Ms Curran added: 'We tried to explain to the officers that the summer house was in the best position.' The couple even submitted a petition to the council from neighbours and friends in support. Determined not to be beaten, Ms Curran and Mr Keyes took action to secure the future of their summer house. With guidance from council planners they moved the summer house and restructured their garden. A relieved Ms Curran, 50, said: 'It has been very stressful and we are glad it is over. We won and we have our summer house. 'We would like to thank our neighbours and friends for their support.' She added: 'We can move on now and enjoy our summer house stays.' A spokesperson for Inverclyde Council said: 'In the event of a retrospective planning application and any subsequent appeal both being refused due to breaches of the planning guidelines, we will endeavour to work with the applicant to explore options available to them and whether there are ways to meet relevant planning guidelines.'
Daily Record
21-07-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Tower block at Scots 'Chernobyl' estate pulled down as demolition continues
The first of many tower blocks in the abandoned Clune Park estate has been knocked down. Tower blocks at an abandoned Scots housing estate dubbed "Britain's Chernobyl" are being pulled down as the major demolition continues. The first of several high-rises at Clune Park in Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, has been reduced to rubble along with a number of other buildings, all of which have been lying empty since 1997. Demolition work began last month, and has since seen the area's school, church and community centre pulled down. A total of 430 flats across 45 blocks will be demolished. The first phase will see 138 properties across 15 blocks at the corner of Robert Street and Wallace Street torn down. Inverclyde Council now owns 80 per cent of Clune Park after years of legal wrangling with landlords. It is hoped the demolition work on the Montgomerie Street site will make way for up to 165 new homes. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. The estate, built in 1905, is made up of 430 flats in rotting tenement buildings as well as a rundown church - all covered in graffiti and litter. It was abandoned in 1997 and is now a ghost town. Pictures show the site resembling something from a post-apocalyptic film, with a number of urban explorers also attracted in recent years.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Former sailor behind Inverkip takeaway bid reveals more detail as plans approved
A FORMER Merchant Navy sailor behind plans for a new takeaway in Inverkip says he hopes to have the business up and running by the start of the winter. Scott Ure spoke to the Telegraph after his planning application was approved by Inverclyde councillors – having initially been turned down by local authority officials. Mr Ure, 62, plans to use a refurbished shipping container as a hot food outlet, complete with off-grid electrical system, at the layby on the A78 at the south end of the village. His proposals were turned down by Inverclyde Council's planning department in December – but that decision was overturned by elected councillors on the authority's local review body (LRB) last week after Mr Ure submitted an appeal. Scott Ure's plans for a hot food takeaway at the car park on the A78 at the south end of Inverkip were approved on appeal. (Image: Google Street View) The Wemyss Bay resident said: "I am pleased that it was approved in the end. I walk up and down from Wemyss Bay to the marina quite often and there is nowhere to go for a coffee "Cafe Riva [at nearby Kip Marina] closes in the winter, but a lot of people in the area do cold water swimming, scuba diving and paddle boarding." He said that among the reasons cited by Inverclyde Council's planning department for initially refusing planning permission was that there wasn't good access to the site. Mr Ure told the Telegraph: "There is a really good bus service to Inverkip. There has been a lot of chat on social media about it. OTHER NEWS: 'It's going to be a special one': Bumper Comet Festival planned for Port's 250th year 'Everybody loved him': Fitness instructor pays tribute to father after sudden death Big-hearted barber opens new shop and pledges to donate £5k a year to charity "I will be selling teas, coffees, soup and wraps. It's not going to be a fast food takeaway. It will be healthy options." He said it should take three to four weeks for the final documents confirming planning approval to come through, and another three months for the container to be ordered, delivered and fitted out. Mr Ure, who has lived in Wemyss Bay for 15 years, said: "I hope to open at the end of the autumn. The layby is part of the old road and I believe there used to be a cafe on the old road." The venture is also a departure from Mr Ure's previous career working at sea. Scott Ure formerly worked in the Merchant Navy and as an offshore engineer. (Image: Contributed) He said: "I've worked on various types of ships, including passenger ships and ferries, and offshore, in engineering. "This is a semi-retirement venture for me to see how it goes. I'm looking forward to it. 'I'm not going to turn it into a Costa or Starbucks, but to provide a service to people in the area." Mr Ure's application was rejected in December after council officers said it clashed with green belt policies. The site is currently home to a car park, public toilets and the Inverkip war memorial. (Image: Google Street View) He appealed to the Local Review Body (LRB) last month but councillors opted to delay a final decision in order to find out whether permission could be granted on a temporary basis. Planners suggested two conditions – though neither related to the green belt concerns that led planners to turn down the application. At last week's LRB meeting, Councillor John Crowther said the site should be regarded as 'brown field' as it is close to a public toilet and car park. Cllr Crowther said: "My only concern is the site's close proximity to the war memorial. On Remembrance Sunday we have a commemoration at the memorial. I wonder if we could have a condition that the business should close while the commemoration is ongoing, but not for the whole day.' Councillor John Crowther said he supported the plans - but asked if the business would be willing not to operate during the Remembrance Sunday commemoration at the nearby war memorial. The LRB's chair, Councillor Tommy McVey, said he would be happy to have a discussion with Mr Ure about the Remembrance Sunday event without having to make it a condition of planning approval. Councillor Crowther said: "I would be quite happy to go down that avenue, so we could proceed and make a decision today." Councillor Stephen McCabe who previously said he did not support the view of planners that the site was greenbelt and couldn't support their reasons for refusal. Addressing the Remembrance Sunday issue raised by Cllr Crowther, Mr Ure told the Telegraph: "Generations of my family were in the Merchant Navy. I will probably be at the memorial for the Remembrance Sunday commemorations myself.'
The Sun
04-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
Britain's ‘Chernobyl estate' is finally DEMOLISHED as 430 rotting flats are wiped from map – bringing end to 2-year saga
AN INFAMOUS block of flats dubbed "Britain's Chernobyl" have been razed to the ground after rotting away for two years. Contractors moved in to take down the notorious apartments in the eerie Clune Park estate after they were branded dangerous. 6 6 6 The derelict buildings, located Port Glasgow, were deemed unsafe by the local Inverclyde Council. A former school and church building were demolished in the first phase of the wide-ranging deconstruction project. During the entire demolition, 430 residential properties across 45 tenement blocks are set to be torn down. 138 properties across 15 tenement blocks are will be demolished by contractors during this round of destruction. Inverclyde Council said the work is being carried out in the interests of safety. It comes after "dangerous buildings" notices were served following extensive investigations by authorities and surveyors. The public have been urged to stay away from the remote area. Largely abandoned, Clune Park has been targeted by arson attacks and plagued by anti-social behaviour. Also nicknamed " Scotland 's Chernobyl", the estate got its moniker for its desolate and and dangerous reputation. The buildings share a striking similarity to scenes of radioactive decay in the surrounding areas of the Chernobyl power plant. Inside abandoned center parcs A new masterplan for Clune Park was approved by the council in November 2023. It made the ultimate aim of demolishing the entire estate and building up to 165 new, affordable homes for rent. Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council, said: 'Work is progressing well with the removal of the former church and school buildings. 'While that in itself was significant, seeing the flats starting to come down is a huge moment for everyone connected to Clune Park." He added: 'There will no doubt be a sense of sadness among families who once lived here. "But there is also cause for celebration in seeing these properties coming down as we look ahead to a brighter future for Clune Park." The councillor also said that they had exciting new plans for the houses on site. He also boasted of its prime location, close to the town centre as well as local businesses and great transport links. He added: 'This area has such huge potential and can once again be a desirable place to live.' The gruelling demolition work is being carried out by local contractor Caskie Limited, based in Greenock. A spokesperson for the firm said: "Winning this contract has provided a great opportunity for our team to contribute to the work being done." They added that it "enables us to continue developing our workforce within the Inverclyde community". 6 6 6
The Herald Scotland
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Timeline for £24 million Greenock transformation revealed in new plans
The work will see a number of places demolished, including the Hector McNeil House, the Bullring Roundabout and the eastern side of the Oak Mall Shopping Centre. The A8 flyover in place of traffic light junctions will be removed, while the creation of new public spaces and a fresh entrance for the Oak Mall will also take place. Extensive planning has taken place on the project with some initial works and site investigations carried out. The main bulk of the work is to begin later in the year with contractors starting with the Oak Mall and Hector McNeill House works. The project is scheduled for completion in 2027 with more details on that to be announced in the future. Read More Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council, said: 'This is a complex project involving various public and private sector partners and a lot of hard work has gone in behind the scenes to get to this stage where the main works are due to start soon. 'This is the biggest project of its kind in a generation with the aim of transforming central Greenock and the town centre for the better and is really exciting. 'It will build on the good work that's been done to date, including the new Ocean Terminal building and the West Blackhall Street redevelopment, by making Greenock a more accessible and attractive place to live, work, visit and do business. 'There will, of course, be disruption and we're not shying away from that. 'We're also well aware of disruption experienced by residents in recent times due to a variety of emergency and planned works, particularly on the roads network and we share those frustrations. 'Council officers are working closely with the main contractor and alongside our various partners to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum. 'It's worth remembering though that the long-term goal here is to modernise and improve Greenock and to try and revitalise the town centre. 'I hope people will share in this positive outlook for the town and get behind Greenock.' The total investment in the central Greenock project is expected to be around £23.58m, including associated land and road improvement costs. Inverclyde Council successfully bid for £19.39m from the UK Government towards the project with the remaining £4.19m is being sourced from various external funding pots and the council's capital reserves. UK Government Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill said: "I welcome confirmation that the transformation of Greenock Town Centre will begin later this year. 'This exciting project, funded by £19.39 million UK Government investment, will boost the economy, create skilled Scottish jobs and enhance the lives of communities. "The UK Government is investing more than £1.4 billion in dozens of important local growth projects and programmes across Scotland over the next 10 years - including up to £20 million more for Greenock as part of our Plan for Neighbourhoods. 'Working with partners we will deliver a decade of national renewal through our Plan for Change." The transformative programme from Inverclyde Council will create civic spaces, a restructured retail offer and improve links between various parts of the town centre and the waterfront. The ageing A78 flyover and the Bullring Roundabout will be removed with the road brought down to ground level to improve access. It will be replaced by a low-level trunk road which brings the town together and provide easier access for visitors and residents.
