Renovate or demolish - what should be done with an industrial relic?

Many people believe demolition is the only option for the old Interfloor factory

The fate of a huge derelict factory on the outskirts of Dumfries has become the subject of increasingly intense debate.

The old Interfloor site was recently declared ownerless, which could lead to it being transferred to the council or another public body.

Then would come the difficult task of deciding what to do with it.

BBC News website readers have been sending in their thoughts on what should become of the site which once produced - among other things - cars, aircraft and wellington boots.

The building was the site of Wellington boot-making for many years

Sandra Fairbairn worked at the factory for 33 years and remembered buses arriving from Sanquhar, Annan and Lockerbie to the site.

She recalled that it was like a "big family all working together".

"I don't want to see it demolished but it could surely be used as a small museum to its history and something for people to do like a bowling alley," she said.

Ultimately she said she hoped it would be "something useful for the community, as it was for many years".

The grounds around the building are overgrown

Lorne Taylor, from Peebles, said the building may have an "interesting history" but it had become an "absolute eyesore" and demolition should be the way forward.

"We do not live in the area but always pass the building on frequent visits to Dumfries," he said.

"As it is located on one of the main routes into Dumfries, it does little to attract visitors - or indeed investors - in its current state.

"We live in eternal hope it will be knocked down."

For Coral Moyes, from Dumfries and Galloway, it is an "amazing building with a fabulous heritage".

"I would love to see it renovated," she said.

"Too many of our historic buildings are demolished to make way for housing.

"I would love to see it become, for example, the National Motor Museum of Scotland, building upon its Arrol-Johnston beginnings."

The building stretches across a large site

That was not a view shared by Audrey Wells.

"There is no doubt in my mind this should be demolished," she said.

"It is the biggest eyesore for people coming into the town from the north.

"It is dangerous and is an accident waiting to happen."

Her mother worked at the factory as a secretary from the late 1950s to the 1990s.

"I have fond memories of those days when it was a bustling factory but it's time to let it go," she added.

That was echoed by Alison Mann.

"What a terrible shame that it can't be restored but unfortunately it appears that it's deteriorated too much to be a viable proposition," she said.

"I think that the only way forward is to demolish the building, making way for affordable housing and maybe at least a board put up with the history of the building and the achievements of the factory workers."

'Lazy decision'

Alison Bell, from Dumfries, is in favour of its retention.

"The building must not be knocked down," she said.

"That would be a lazy decision that ignores the current carbon/climate-change crisis and the amazing historical and architectural legacy."

She said it could have "multiple purposes" and become apartments, workspaces or an industrial museum.

A bowling alley was one suggestion for a use for the site

Carole Johnston-Parr, of Moffat, was also of the view that the building should not be knocked down.

She said it could become "lovely light-filled apartments" or suggested taking a look at the old Littlewoods building in Liverpool, which is now to be made into a film studio with performance space.

For Sheila Brown from Dumfries, though, the site is a "dump" and should be completely demolished.

"Visitors must be horrified at the state of it," she said.

"Clear the site and build more homes which are badly needed."

Fellow Doonhamer Jim Kirkpatrick hoped there could be a positive end to the story for the town.

"I’d like to see it redeveloped into a retail park with entertainment venues such as cinema, bowling, games and food places," he said.

"Somewhere that parents in Dumfries can take their children and spend their money locally - rather than going further afield."