£40k for Port Glasgow anniversary

£40k for Port Glasgow anniversary

THE 250^th anniversary of Port Glasgow in 2025 will be supported by a £40,000 funding package from Inverclyde Council.

Members of the local authority’s policy and resources committee unanimously approved the allocation of the five-figure sum to help celebrate the milestone.

Next year, it will be 250 years since Port Glasgow was established as a burgh in 1775.

The council will now allocate £40k from the Common Good Fund towards events and activities during 2025 to celebrate the anniversary.

The one-off funding is in addition to more than £13k that the local authority provides in support of the Comet Festival in the town’s Coronation Park each year.

Council officers will now develop ideas to build on existing events and look at specific projects to mark the 250^th anniversary alongside community groups.

Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council and convener of policy and resources, said: “This is a significant milestone for Port Glasgow and an opportunity to celebrate the past, present and future of the town.

“It’s only right that we, as a council, do what we can to support the 250^th anniversary and I’m pleased my fellow councillors agreed to allocate this funding towards new and existing events and activities next year.

“This is an opportunity for the Inverclyde community to celebrate 250 years of the burgh of Port Glasgow but also to promote the town and the area as a whole to a wider audience and show what a great place this part of the world is to live, work, visit and do business.

“I look forward to seeing the anniversary plans develop and for the festivities in 2025.”

The origins of Port Glasgow dates back to the late sixteenth century when the authorities in Glasgow purchased land by the village of Newark to establish a port for the city.

In 1710, the principal custom house on the River Clyde was constituted at the Port of Glasgow.

The settlement around the port grew quickly and soon absorbed the fishing village of Newark.

Newark was a burgh of barony belonging to Hamilton of Wishaw, while Port Glasgow remained under the municipal authority of the City of Glasgow.

Recognising the complexities of this arrangement, an act of parliament was passed in 1775 establishing Port Glasgow as a burgh in its own right.

The Port Glasgow (Improvement) Act 1775 defined the burgh’s municipal responsibilities and its authority to raise duty.

The Act was passed on 22 May 1775 and Port Glasgow was born.

More information about the Port Glasgow 250 celebrations will be announced in due course.

In the meantime, find out about what Port Glasgow and Inverclyde has to offer at discoverinverclyde.com