A £188,000 project to improve the Greenock Cut Visitor Centre is virtually complete.

Inverclyde Council earmarked £540k for a package of improvements at Lunderston Bay and Greenock Cut shortly after taking over responsibility for the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park sites in 2021.

Work began in October 2021 on improving the popular Greenock Cut Visitor Centre and is now almost finished, with the remaining £80,000 to be spent on solar panels and an upgrade of the building’s heating and ventilation systems which will be installed soon.

Councillor Michael McCormick, Inverclyde Council’s convener of environment and regeneration, said: “Greenock Cut is a stunning area of wild beauty in Inverclyde, and it is fitting that we now have a centre suitable to welcome visitors to the area. The additional picnic tables, extra signage, painting inside and out as well as improved toilets and baby change have made a big difference to the centre and the visitor’s experience.

“Since we took over responsibility for our two Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park sites, we immediately began making improvements.

“We’ve already seen a fantastic new playpark installed at Lunderston Bay which has had a terrific response from families and the additional improvements have made it even more welcoming.

“These two magnificent outdoor areas at the Greenock Cut and Lunderston Bay are jewels in the crown of Inverclyde and investing in improvements and maintenance of these sites will ensure locals and visitors alike can continue to visit the area and discover what Inverclyde has to offer.” 

Improvements made to the visitor centre include painting the entire exterior and interior, new electric roller shutters, new security lighting, CCTV, a total revamp of the toilets and baby changing facilities, new floor coverings in the classroom and seating area, a new large whiteboard interactive panel, new storage units, new litter bins, additional picnic tables, roof repairs, new outdoor signage and installation of a defibrillator.

Senior park ranger Michael Holcombe said: “We are so fortunate to have such a lovely area within Inverclyde, and the improvements to the visitor centre facilities shows our commitment to helping people enjoy their visits.

“Many visitors have commented on how good the centre looks and it’s great that the investment has been made to continue to welcome even more people to Greenock Cut.”

In October 2022, a new £200k playpark opened at Lunderston Bay with other improvements totalling £71,000 now in place at the site including new CCTV and floor covering at the Ranger Station, additional picnic tables, new and additional litter bins, new exterior lighting, new life buoys, toilet hand dryers, bollards to prevent parking on the grass and replacement welcome signs.

Both sites will also have car counters installed to monitor visitor numbers.

Following a reorganisation of the regional park, which used to be jointly controlled by neighbouring local authorities, the Inverclyde parts and local staff, including the rangers, transferred to the council in 2021.

For more information about what to see and do in Inverclyde, including details about the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park sites at Greenock Cut and Lunderston Bay, visit www.discoverinverclyde.com.