More than 60 per cent of residents believe that Ardeer’s historic Africa House should NOT be demolished, according to a recent survey.

It comes after owners Clowes Developments (Scotland) Ltd, who bought the land in 2006, applied for planning permission to demolish it as they claim “restoration would be unviable, given the extent of damage to the building’s internal fabric and envelope”.

However, the plans have sparked a campaign amongst the community to save the B-listed building, which was initially built for the British Empire Exhibition in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, in 1938 before being rebuilt brick by brick at the ICI Nobel site in Ardeer where it was used as a staff kitchen and restaurant.

The Friends of Stevenston group recently ran a survey on the issue.

It found that 62 per cent of the 76 respondents were against demolition while 28 per cent were in favour of the plans and 10 per cent were unsure.

The results will now be taken to Stevenston Community Council, where it will be discussed during their April meeting.

Secretary of Friends of Stevenston Iain Hamlin told the Herald: “The motivation behind the survey was to ensure people have a say over what is happening in their town.

“Most people were against demolition but it was not an overwhelming majority.

“The results will go to the community council where they will discuss whether they want to object to the proposed demolition and then they will make their representations to North Ayrshire Council.”