NURSERY With A View Completed At Former Greenock Academy/Waterloo Road Site

CONSTRUCTION of a £3.4million nursery has been completed on part of the former Greenock Academy/Waterloo Road site, overlooking the River Clyde.

The 100-pupil Glenpark Early Learning Centre has been built at the corner of Madeira Street and Finnart Street. It replaces the current West End facility at Kelly Street Nursery and St Mary’s Primary.

There are three playrooms in the new centre –- two accommodating 40 children and one accommodating 20. Each has views out over the river. Outside teaching and play areas have also been created including a wooden story-telling chair.

Inverclyde Council’s education and communities convener Councillor Jim Clocherty said: “It has been a long journey for the West End of Greenock and I am absolutely delighted the new centre is ready to welcome staff and children.”

Councillor Clocherty with Councillor Graeme Brooks, Councillor Elizabeth Robertson and staff and children from Kelly Street Children’s Centre.

He added: “I know parents and carers are excited at the prospect of such a modern and well-thought out building at the heart of their community.

“Their children will have the best start to their learning journey in those all-important early years before school.”

The rest of the site is being marketed by the council.

The 50-year-old Greenock Academy building was demolished in 2015. It closed in 2011 when the school merged with Gourock High to form Clydeview Academy in Gourock.

The building gained a second career and became familiar to millions of TV viewers UK-wide when BBC school drama series Waterloo Road used it as a set and production base but filming finished in August 2014.

Former pupils marked the building’s half century with an event in September 2014.