Gourock's hoteliers to flush out sewage plans

Holiday and hospitality businesses in Gourock on the Firth of Clyde are gearing up for a summer-long campaign against plans for a nearby sewage works.

The Stakis Gourock Hotel, Kip Marina and Cloch Caravans Holiday Park are among those who will be trying to persuade visitors to oppose the £10.5m development.

They claim that the sewage works would have a "disastrous" effect on tourism in an area that attracts more than a million visitors a year.

Although the works should not be visible, locals are worried about it pumping out bad smells.

"It's a popular destination, people come here for the view and the scenery," said Clive Watts, general manager of the 99-bedroom Stakis Gourock, which is preparing for a £100,000 refurbishment.

Ken Thomson, the campaign's coordinator, added: "If visitors are aware there's a full-blown sewage works, they're not likely to stop, they're just going to keep on driving."

Campaigners, who have called their project Baywatch Lunderston, have already gathered a 10,000-strong petition against the development, which is awaiting planning permission. They also plan to display posters around the town.

A spokesman for the sewage works' developers, West of Scotland Water, said the works would be partially sealed off, thus preventing odours. "No works are odour-free but the people living in the area should be unaware of its presence," he said.