A Fairlie author and historian is urging villagers to get behind a local heritage project after a disappointing response so far.

Community councillor John Riddell, who has written a book about the history of the Clyde, is campaigning for a new heritage centre at the former Fairlie Primary school.

At the end of January local consultant Jane Kerr Projects Limited was appointed by Fairlie Community Trust to undertake a £17,000 study into the feasibility of utilising the former village school as a community heritage centre.

JKP is carrying out extensive consultation within Fairlie to seek the views of local residents, organisations and businesses on this idea. Inquiry forms have also been distributed round the village and all interested are urged to return these to one of the collecting points, or to contact Jane Kerr Projects at Jane.Kerr2@btinternet.com.

A public meeting will be held in Fairlie Village Hall on Wednesday 19th March at 7.30pm to discuss the results of Stage 1 of the feasibility study All Fairlie residents are urged to attend.

Speaking at the community council meeting, Mr Riddell said that he had only received 60 questionnaires back from the 600 households in the community, and urged the village to get behind the project to celebrate the history of the village. He said that there would need to be much more interest in order to get the unique history project off the ground.