YOU will sometimes hear people complaining that Inverclyde historical buildings have vanished without trace instead of being preserved in some way.

Other countries seem to be better than us at maintaining such structures despite the march of progress.

The Tele has reported good news on this front, however, with a welcome revelation about the Old West Kirk, now known as Lyle Kirk Esplanade.

Following a request from the public, Historic Environment Scotland (HES) have upgraded it from ‘B’ to ‘A’ listed status because of its national significance.

Campaigners are relieved that this will make it more difficult for a developer to get planning permission to knock it down and build houses, for example, at such a desirable location.

HES are rightly impressed that the Kirk is one of the few such buildings to have been transferred, stone by stone, from another location.

This, they note, makes ‘the survival and intactness of the outstanding collection of windows, as well as the good quality carved timberwork in the interior, all the more remarkable’.

In recent years, the Kirk has become a welcome sight for people arriving on cruise liners, many of whom visit it courtesy of Inverclyde Tourist Group.

More than 2,000 passengers sailed into the Kirk last year, to enjoy fascinating talks about the church, marvel at its architecture and, no doubt, tell their friends and relatives around the globe about it when they returned home.

The Old West is certainly an ‘A’ standard treasure.