Remember to cast your vote in the upcoming Scottish Parliamentary Election on Thursday 5th May.

Your 4 candidates are:

Conservative – Graeme Andrew Brooks

Labour – Duncan McNeil

Liberal Democrat – Ross Finnie

SNP – Stuart McMillan

We have invited each of our candidates to tell PortGlasgow.org.uk why you should vote for them – watch this space for their replies!

GRAEME BROOKS, Conservative candidate for Greenock & Inverclyde, has been in touch with PortGlasgow.org.uk.

Graeme Brooks, Candidate for the Conservative & Unionist Party

Mr Brooks says:

“The votes which you cast on Thursday will decide the make up of the Scottish Parliament for the next 5 years.

DUNCAN MCNEIL, Scottish Labour Party candidate for Greenock & Inverclyde, has been in touch with PortGlasgow.org.uk.

Duncan McNeil, Candidate for the Scottish Labour Party

Mr McNeil says:

This is the first time that I have stood in a Scottish Parliamentary election for the Port Glasgow area.

ROSS FINNIE, Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Greenock & Inverclyde, has been in touch with PortGlasgow.org.uk.

Ross Finnie, Candidate for the Scottish Liberal Democrats

Mr Finnie says:

“The Liberal Democrats believe that in the current climate, it is more important than ever that people and businesses in Port Glasgow and Inverclyde have the best possible environment for employment and economic recovery. Boosting jobs will be our number one priority in the next parliament.

With your support on Thursday May 5th – on both your peach and lilac-coloured ballot papers – my Liberal Democrat colleagues and I will continue to work hard for the people of Port Glasgow and Inverclyde.”

STUART MCMILLAN, Scottish National Party candidate for Greenock & Inverclyde, has been in touch with PortGlasgow.org.uk.

Stuart McMillan, Candidate for the Scottish National Party

Mr McMillan says:

“Positive about Inverclyde

A vote for me on your lilac ballot paper and Alex Salmond for First Minister on your peach ballot paper will ensure Greenock and Inverclyde and Scotland elects a Scottish Government focused on jobs, fairness and opportunities. Voting SNP in both the constituency and regional votes ensures a positive message about Inverclyde is heard in Parliament. Only Stuart McMillan and the SNP are Positive about Inverclyde. Finally, a vote for me ensures a ‘Portonian’ is once again elected to the Scottish Parliament and a Port voice will be heard.”

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Port Glasgow took its name from the fact that the upper reaches of the Clyde, closer to Glasgow, were too shallow to accommodate ships, sometimes being as shallow as 2 feet at low tide. The Glaswegian authorities therefore bought land at Newark Castle in what is now Port Glasgow and used that as their main port: this occurred in 1668 and Port Glasgow was for a number of years the Clyde’s main customs port.

Glasgow was once known as the second city of the British Empire: a vast proportion of the ships, used for both military and commercial purposes, were built in and around Glasgow on the shores of the River Clyde. The Clyde was in many ways the maritime powerhouse of the British Empire.

The first ship to be built in Port Glasgow was the Comet in 1812, Europe’s first ocean-going steamship and establishing the Clyde as a global shipbuilding mecca. Some of the world’s most famous ships have been built on the Clyde, with Port Glasgow at its centre: John Brown and Company at Clydebank built and launched RMS Queen Mary launched on 26th September 1934; RMS Queen Elizabeth launched on 27th September 1938; and RMS Queen Elizabeth II (The QE2) launched on 20th September 1967.

John Brown and Company were responsible for building and launching a number of other world famous ships, both civil and military, including HMS Hood, HMS Repulse, RMS Lusitania and the aircraft carrier HMS Indefatigable. A number of other excellent shipbuilders were prolific on the Clyde, including Fairfield Govan, William Fife Fairlie, Alexander Stephen & Sons Glasgow, Scotts Bowling, Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, Yarrow Shipbuilders Scotstoun, Ardrossan Dockyard, James Lamont & Company Greenock, Upper Clyde Shipbuilders, Govan Shipbuilders, Scotstoun Marine, Campbeltown Shipyard and Kvaerner Govan.

Glasgow and Clyde shipbuilding was really the lifeblood of many Glasgow and West of Scotland communities. The yards were forever a hive of activity, with engineers, platers, welders, sheet metalworkers, plumbers, electricians, draftsmen, painters and many other craftsmen applying their trade. Local communities were highly dependent on the shipyards for employment, so that shipbuilding was really an economic necessity for many families, and it also played a social function too. Trade unions were also strong in the shipyards, with union leaders leading their men out over a variety of industrial disputes. Getting a job in those days was often as simple as turning up at a mass rally of men at a shipyard, where positions would be announced and candidates selected on the spot.

In more recent times Clyde shipbuilding has diminished sharply, with rising costs, foreign competition and the decline of Britain as an industrial exporter. World War II also helped in the demise of Clyde shipbuilding, with the German Luftwaffe inflicting serious damage on Clydebank where many of the shipyards were located. Whereas once there were more than 70 shipyards on the Clyde, today there remain only two: Ferguson Shipbuilders at Port Glasgow, largely producing car ferries; and BAE Systems Surface Ships on the former site of the Yarrow Shipbuilders, specialising in advanced surface naval ships.

If you are interested in finding out more about shipbuilding on the Clyde and in Scotland generally, then the excellent Scotland’s Great Ships is for you.

The QE2 was built on the Clyde.

HOW TO GET TO PORT GLASGOW BY CAR

From Glasgow (22 miles)

Follow the M8 Westbound from Glasgow City Centre, follow it past Glasgow Airport, Erskine and Bishopton – the road will become the A8 and is followed directly all the way to Port Glasgow.

From Edinburgh (68 miles)

From Edinburgh, follow the M8 Westbound all the way to Glasgow. Follow the M8 directly through Glasgow City Centre and past Glasgow Airport, Erskine and Bishopton – the road will become the A8 and is followed directly all the way to Port Glasgow.

From Stirling (51 miles)

From Stirling, follow the M9 Southbound and then take the M80 junction signposted for Glasgow and Carlisle. Follow the M80, which becomes the A80 and then the M80 again, all the way until it merges with the M8 in Glasgow. The M8 should then be followed Westbound through Glasgow City Centre and past Glasgow Airport, Erskine and Bishopton – the road will become the A8 and is followed directly all the way to Port Glasgow.

HOW TO GET TO PORT GLASGOW BY TRAIN

Port Glasgow sits on the Inverclyde Line, and is serviced by First Scotrail. Services run directly from Glasgow Central (via Paisley), and also from Gourock and Wemyss Bay. For more details visit www.scotrail.co.uk.

HOW TO GET TO PORT GLASGOW BY COACH

Port Glasgow is locally served by McGills Buses – for more details visit www.mcgillsbuses.co.uk.

HOW TO GET TO PORT GLASGOW BY AIR

Port Glasgow lies only 14 miles from Glasgow International Airport, which is an international air hub with good flight connections with London and the rest of the UK, as well as flights to Europe, Asia and the United States. Port Glasgow is 44 miles from Prestwick Airport, which is served predominantly by low-cost airlines flying to UK and European destinations. Port Glasgow is 61 miles from Edinburgh Airport, which has good flight connections with London and the rest of the UK, as well as European and U.S. destinations.

Newark Castle is a 15th century castle in the heart of Port Glasgow, on the shores of the River Clyde.

It was built by George Maxwell who had inherited the Barony of Finlaystone in the Parish of Kilmacolm. Sir Patrick Maxwell inherited the castle in the late 16th century; Sir Patrick expanded the castle to include a new three storey Renaissance mansion in the Scottish baronial style. The exterior of the castle has fine Jacobean details. The North East Tower was also converted into a dovecot (pronounced “doocot”), for housing doves or pigeons.

Sir Patrick Maxwell was quite a character: he was a murderer, killing not only members of a rival family, the Montgomeries of Skelmorlie, but also killing his own kin. Sir Patrick also beat his own wife, allegedly attacking her with a sword and keeping her locked in her chamber for 6 months, despite the fact they were married together for 44 years and his wife had 16 children to him. Sir Patrick’s own mother was alarmed at his brutality, and filed a complaint with the Scottish Privy Council in 1595, but to no avail. His wife eventually managed to flee across the River Clyde to Dumbarton, where she eventually died.

The authorities in Glasgow purchased land around Newark Castle in 1668 and developed a harbour which took the name of Port Glasgow. This was to be the port for Glasgow, with the upper reaches of the River Clyde being too shallow to accommodate most ships; and indeed Port Glasgow remained the Clyde’s customs port for many years. Newark Castle remained and was taken into public ownership in 1909. Today it is owned by Historic Scotland and makes for an excellent family day out for visitors.

At the time of writing, admission prices to Newark Castle were:

Adult – £3.70

Concession – £3.00

Child – £2.20

And the opening hours of Newark Castle were:

1st April – 30th September, 7 days per week, 9:30am – 5:30pm.

The Castle is closed during the Winter season.

The contact details of the castle are:

Newark Castle, Historic Scotland, Port Glasgow, PA14 5NH

Telephone: +44 (0)1475 741 858

Newark Castle and Ferguson’s Shipyard.

Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park is the largest regional park in Scotland, home to Castle Semple, Lunderston Bay, Haylie Brae and charming hill and woodland walks.

Castle Semple Visitor Centre & Country Park is located on the shores of Castle Semple Loch. The estate contains some lovely woodland at Parkhill Wood, fish ponds and the Collegiate Church, which is a 15th century structure. The visitor centre is open all year round and has a tearoom and gift shop. There are also seasonal activities available including boating, mountain biking, cycle hire, kayaking, sailing, archery and navigation sessions. This is an excellent day out not just for children, but also for adults looking for leisure or relaxation time in a fantastic country environment, easily accessible from Glasgow and the Central Belt.

If you prefer to get into some wilder hill country, then head to Muirshiel. This area has great signposted footpaths and trails through the woods and over the hills and moors. It’s a great day out. Take in the fresh air and be rewarded with fantastic views across the Clyde and over Argyll. There is a visitor centre at Muirshiel where, during the breeding season, you can watch Hen Harriers by CCTV. You would never believe that such wilderness is on the doorstep of Port Glasgow – and yet it’s true – you could anywhere in more rural parts of Scotland, and sometimes they are busier than here!

Lunderston Bay is an award-winning beach on the shores of the River Clyde. It is also known as Glasgow’s closest sandy beach. As well as beautiful coastal walks to Inverkip, Cloch Point and Gourock, there are also picnic areas, toilet facilities and an adventure playground. Cardwell Garden Centre is also conveniently located closely. Lunderston Bay is great for families looking for an evening or weekend out in the sun, with the Clyde air deep in their lungs. Lovely!

Haylie Brae is another great place for days out in the hills. There are excellent routes to Castle Hill Fort, Gogo Glen, Douglas Park and Irish Law. If you’re going hillwalking, do make sure you bring all the necessary equipment, including sturdy boots, a waterproof jacket, a map and compass (and proficiency in their use), and always leave your route and expected return time with a friend or family member. Remember to let them know when you’re back! Too many people have forgotten to do this, and the emergency services have been sent out into the hills looking for someone who is relaxing at home… Also, this might be a wilderness area, but wild camping is not allowed, and you should not light fires. Take all your litter home, take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints, and follow the Country Code.

Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park has three main visitor centres: Castle Semple, Muirshiel, and Greenock Cut Centre. There are community woodlands at Locherwood and Outerwards, and there is also a campsite at Barnbrock. The Park is definitely one of Inverclyde’s best kept secrets!

Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park

The QE2 being built on the Clyde

Coming soon.