A JOHNSTONE councillor is on a mission to save a historic school building which has fallen into a “terrible state”.

The old Quarrelton School building, just off Beith Road at the top of the Linn Brae, is thought to have been built between 1825 and 1837 and was used up until 1877.

Since it stopped being a school, it has only been used by Renfrewshire Council to store Christmas lights and equipment but Councillor Andy Steel, who represents the area, believes the building has much more potential, with visions of it becoming a heritage centre or museum at some point in the future.

Cllr Steel told the Gazette: “The building is in a terrible state and if nothing is done soon it will probably be too late to save it.

“The roof is in need of urgent attention.

“It may not be a particularly striking building but it’s easily the oldest in the area with any cultural relevance. It might not be possible to save it but I think we need to at least try.

“I hope enough people will be interested in saving it so we can get a group up and running to see what can be done.

“Johnstone lost the Bird in Hand, The Black Bull and St Andrew’s Trinity and I’d like to preserve something of the town’s history in bricks and mortar.”

It is not thought that there is any printed history of the school, which sits opposite Tower Road, and Cllr Steel said he hoped he could also address this if enough residents are interested in helping the cause.

Cllr Steel will be holding a meeting in Johnstone Town Hall on Wednesday, August 9, for anyone who is interesting in saving the school.

It will begin at 6.30pm.

A spokesperson for Renfrewshire Council said: “The former Quarrelton School has been used as a storage facility in recent years but is currently being cleaned with a view to making the property available for sale or lease. As with all buildings of this nature, we welcome any interest in bringing it back into use for the community.”