A community trust set up to try to stop a former school in Oban from being knocked down and turned into flats has appointed directors.
Oban Communities Trust wants to turn Rockfield School into a cultural centre.
Argyll Community Housing Association (Acha) had hoped to buy the building, which has lain empty for seven years, for £1 and demolish it and use the site for homes.
Acha had pledged to invest £5million providing 37 new affordable flats for rent.
But there was a public outcry and Oban Communities Trust was formed, and made an offer for the building.
The trust was named as preferred bidder for Rockfield at a private meeting of Argyll and Bute Council last month.
At a packed public meeting in Oban’s Royal Hotel at the weekend, the trust appointed seven directors.
They are Gordon McNab, Alison McNab, Graham MacQueen, Joanie Garvin, Jamie Smith, Ronnie Neil and Caroline Boswell.
Mr McNab said: “The meeting went really well, 85 people turned up and a lot of people sent their apologies.
“We will be looking for an eighth director as we go along.
“We have applied for funding to help with the preparation of a fully costed business plan, which the council has asked us for.
“We are continuing to gather information and public support.
“We have had a lot of good ideas, including preserving one of the classrooms as a Victorian classroom.
“We are determined that we will have a robust, costed business plan in place by the end of the year.”