‘Home of Hillman Imp’ heritage plan proposed Councillor calls for LinwoodToll bridge revamp to honour car plant workers

Rusting signage on the railway bridge at Linwood Toll should be restored to mark the history of a former car plant and its workers, an elected member has said.

Thousands plied their trade at a sprawling factory site – now home to the St James Business Centre and Phoenix Retail Park – which manufactured the iconic Hillman Imp in the 1960s and 1970s.

The plant opened in 1963 under the ownership of Rootes before being taken over by Chrysler and later Peugeot Talbot. It closed in 1981 – a decision that represented a major blow for local people.

However, it remains a vital aspect of the area’s heritage, Councillor Andy Steel, who represents Johnstone South and Elderslie, said at a full council meeting.

The SNP politician put forward a motion directing the chief executive to write to Network Rail, asking it to engage with stakeholders about the deteriorating graphics – which include references to some of the vehicles produced – on the bridge at Linwood Toll and options to restore them. The request was agreed.

Councillor Steel said: “The former car plant is an essential part of the area’s heritage. Thousands of people worked there for long or short periods.

“It was a place where most people know someone who worked there, maybe their parents met while working there, they had some connection to it. It was in short a real beating heart of the community for many years.

“However, the signage on the bridge is just about the only visible reminder left of the car plant and, for the reasons I’ve set out already, surely the bridge should be brought back into better condition than the somewhat rust-spotted, faded face it is currently presenting to the world.

“It sends out a poor message, I believe, to residents and visitors alike.”

Councillor Steel said he’d be happy for residents to decide what they’d like to see on the bridge as he explained the issue is of interest to local people.

He added: “Celebrating our area’s heritage is one of the easiest and best ways to create a sense of community and civic pride.

“I know many others have tried...so I’m under no illusions that it will be easy and it will be logistically a large challenge with a live railway line and a very busy road underneath it.

“But it is a chance to show that work there meant something, that we are a living community and that we celebrate our heritage.”

Councillor Eddie Devine, who represents Paisley Southeast, said: “It should be in tribute to the people who worked there – it could be something like ‘home of the Hillman Imp’ – and certainly not to Talbot and all the rest who ran away and shut the place down.

“We should not be paying tribute to that group.”

When contacted by the Paisley Daily Express, a Network Rail spokesperson said: “We are always open to engaging with local authorities and other stakeholders. We will await any forthcoming correspondence from Renfrewshire Council in relation to the railway bridge at Linwood Toll.”