THE future of an imperilled historical site in Glasgow’s South Side is looking brighter today after councillors voted to try to save the building.

Council bosses have been told to work with the Sir John Stirling Maxwell School Trust, who want to see the Pollokshaws school turned into an ecohub, to secure the building’s long-term survival.

Glasgow Times:

It was where the school legendary Red Clydeside leader John McLean taught courses in Marxism and named for the Tory landlord who gifted the site to the state.

Douglas McCreath, a member of the group, welcomed the win for the Trust but warned it was just the “end of the beginning”.

He said: “This is the best option for us, it’s really good news.

Glasgow Times:

“If you think about the history of Pollokshaws, someone like John McLean’s views on social justice and John Maxwell himself was one of the founding fathers of the National Trust, it would be nice to believe that our current elected representatives are taking an equally visionary approach and are happy to preserve the heritage of Pollokshaws.

The Trust now have time to launch a crowfunder to raise the cash needed to save the building.

Douglas added: “We have now bought time to get the ecohub moving forward and that’s great.

“We need that time to flesh out those plans.”

Councillors rejected an £800,000 plan to carry out repair work only likely to last for two years and a proposal to spend £225,000 on the full demolition of the site yesterday.

Councillor Kenny McLean said: “The Sir John Stirling Maxwell School has been vacant since 2011 when it was declared as non-operational surplus by educational services.

“Since then, the condition of the building has deteriorated and has continued to do so. On February 25, this year it suffered a partial roof collapse. Temporary measures to sustain it have been taken however it is still fragile.

“While it is not regarded as an historic building it is very important to a group of interested parties including the Sir John Stirling Maxwell School Trust who aim to secure a long term future for it.”

The council has already spent £270,000 to secure the building who are now required to determine the long-term future of it.

An amendment by the Green Group raised concerns about the plans to work with the Trust as it could take some time to bring a report back before members.

They suggested that the council spend money to secure the site while the Trust works with its architects for a long-term solution.

Councillor Molyneux said: “Time is money and time is also risk for further deterioration.

“We are looking for an agreement that will give the best possible chance for the future of the building. There is major investment to guarantee that future and to give the best possible chance for that to happen.

“It is about finding a way that doesn’t increase the risk to the council or the building.”

Despite councillor Molyneux’s proposal the majority of members voted for the Trust to continue their discussion with architects before bringing a report back before committee at a later date.