TOWN centre bosses have launched a campaign to a retail development they warn could devastate their local high street businesses.
Councillors at Inverclyde Council are due to vote on a plan to create a 16,200 square metre park in Port Glasgow.
But owners of the nearby Oak Mall, in Greenock, fear that the park could drive many local stores out of business and prompt an exodus of brand-name stores.
Peter Langley, of Edinburgh-based Mall property management firm Rapleys saId:"We believe the council has not followed its own planning policy guidelines, which say quite clearly that Greenock is the strategic town centre for Inverclyde and that Gourock and Port Glasgow are complementary.
"My interpretation of that is they should be filling in the gaps, not replacing what we already have.
"The Mall has today launched a campaign called 'Supporting a Vibrant Inverclyde' which it hopes will be joined by its current retail tenants and a host of stores.
The development would have two retail terraces facing each other across a 605 space car park. The 24-hour gym would be at first floor level above one of the retail units.
A spokesman for Inverclyde Council said: "Greenock is and will continue to be Inverclyde's strategic shopping centre, however Port Glasgow does have a complementary role.
"The council is committed to working as closely as we can with businesses to ensure that all areas continue to thrive and grow for the benefit of the entire Inverclyde community and each local area is as strong in its retail offer as it can be."
ends
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