PRESSURE is mounting on authorities to re-open a fire-ravaged Greenock community centre which has been out of action for eight months.
Paton Street hall in Bow Farm has been closed since it was damaged following a deliberate blaze last December.
Residents and ward councillors are campaigning to have it repaired and re-opened.
The property is owned by Inverclyde Council and operated by Inverclyde Leisure.
Ward councillors are set to meet with local authority officials on Wednesday to discuss its future.
Councillor Tommy McVey said: "It's a good facility and was well attended and people just want their community centre opened.
"The longer this place lies empty it becomes more derelict and costs get higher and higher, making it even more difficult to open it back up."
A public meeting was recently held in St Joseph's Church to discuss the hall.
It was attended by nearly 30 residents, who heard that the community is united in trying to get the centre back open.
Pauline Irvine, treasurer of the Paton Street Community Centre, said: "Not a soul has been near it since the fire.
"It's a shame because it's a cracking big hall and it's going to waste."
Mr McVey and his fellow ward councillors will now try and persuade council and leisure officials to come up with a plan to save the centre.
Councillor McVey said: "Inverclyde Leisure have spent £600,000 on Ravenscraig Activity Centre, £111,000 on Gourock Pool, £100,000 on Birkmyre Gym in Kilmacolm and they've also done up Boglestone and Greenock Sports Centre.
"That's all fantastic and it's great to see investment in community.
"But what's being done for ward seven?
"The Paton Street hub has a creche area, function hall, drop-in room, computer suite and an office for the staff and we need to get it back up and running."