Up to £10,000 will be earmarked for a commemoration of the 85th anniversary of the Greenock Blitz next year, it has been agreed.
The “horrific” events of May 6 and 7, 1941, will be remembered after a motion was backed by elected members at full council on Thursday.
It’s estimated 346 people died and more than 10,000 were injured in Inverclyde in the Luftwaffe bombing raids in the Second World War.
Councillor Graeme Brooks, the council’s armed forces champion, submitted a request to mark the anniversary with the support of Councillor Francesca Brennan.
After the meeting, he said: “As time goes on and we lose the people and places most affected by the Greenock Blitz, these anniversaries become more significant and it’s vital that we do all we can to remember those who have died, were injured or whose lives were impacted by these attacks on our towns and villages.
“While the bombings were largely concentrated on Greenock, other parts of Inverclyde were also affected either directly or indirectly so the commemoration is very much for people from across Inverclyde to take part in the commemoration.”
Councillor Brennan added: “The Greenock Blitz was a significant moment in our local and national history and had a profound impact on people right across Inverclyde so we must ensure that we take time to reflect on the horrific events of May 1941 and ensure that we never see the likes again.
“A commemoration will allow the people of Greenock and across Inverclyde to pay their respects to relatives who died or were injured and, as people did in 1941 and at tough times ever since, harness our wonderful Inverclyde community spirit to unite against the causes and devastation of war.”
Up to £10,000 will be made available towards supporting appropriate events to mark the anniversary.
