A community group is attempting to save an iconic former school building from demolition.
More than 100 people attended a public meeting in Oban on Saturday hoping to save the former Rockfield Primary School.
The building in the town centre has lain empty since 2007 when the school relocated to the new primary campus on Soroba Road.
Now a housing association wants to knock it down and build flats on the site.
But many local people want to see the building saved and turned into a cultural centre.
Gordon McNab, of Oban Communities Trust, said: “There was a good turn out, more than 100 people appeared. Everyone was very positive, they all wanted to see the building saved.
“But it was emphasised that saving the building is not enough. They have got to give us an idea of what it would be used for and how it would fund itself.
“The majority of people wanted it to be a cultural centre, with a museum, cafe drop in for the elderly or lonely and gallery space. It was pointed out there is a need for artisan crafters to sell their produce.”
Now the trust members will meet and prepare a business case for making an offer on the building.
Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) has offered to pay Argyll and Bute Council £1 for the school.
The association says it will spend £5million redeveloping the site to provide 37 much-needed affordable homes in the town.
Alastair MacGregor, chief executive of ACHA, said: “There are currently 659 people looking for affordable homes in the town.”
The building has been re-advertised on the open market with a closing date of Friday August 8.
A spokeswoman for Argyll and Bute Council said: “At the council meeting on June 26, councillors agreed to readvertise the property for sale on the open market. They also decided on a closing date of Friday, August 8. Everyone who had previously expressed an interest in Rockfield was contacted and advised of the closing date. It is open to anyone or any group to make an offer for the property.
“Every offer received will be evaluated by officers and a report will be prepared for councillors, who will then make their decision. We expect this report to be available for the August meeting of the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area committee.”