The £900,000 redevelopment of Falkirk Old and St Modan's Churchyard project takes another significant step forward this week as contractors start on environmental works in and around the historic churchyard within Falkirk town centre.

This investment project will put the 'Faw Kirk' churchyard back into the historic heart of the town centre, to make an attractive town centre location telling the rich history of the churchyard to the Falkirk visitors, shoppers and Bairns. Early tree and shrub removal in February has already visually opened the churchyard up to visitors making it more open and bright.

As outlined during the community consultation phases, the project will see a improvement to the visitor experience on the historical site and will feature improvements to visitor information; improvements to footpaths; improved car parking; new lighting and CCTV; installation of feature seating and; restoration and conservation of ironworks on the site.

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Key heritage stonework and restored iron features as well as stone carvings interpreting the rich history of Falkirk, the church and the churchyard will be delivered over the coming months.

New, high quality heritage surfaces in keeping with the churchyard environmental improvements will also be laid on the High Street and at Kirk Wynd at the key visitor access points to the church grounds. Short term inconvenience is expected to be caused to local retailer deliveries in these streets and temporary arrangements will be put in communicated and put in place.

The contract is being delivered by JKF (Group) Ltd on behalf of Falkirk Council and is expected to be completed in October 2010.

Cllr Adrian Mahoney, Convener of Economic Strategy and Development said: "The work will certainly transform this historical site into a far more vibrant and interesting place for people to relax in and to explore and has been fully supported by the Falkirk BID Management Group as a key objective for improving the town centre shopping experience for visitors and shoppers.

"It will also provide a valuable link between the primary and secondary areas of retailing in the town and encourage footfall to our town centre as well as easier movement between these two areas."

Funding for the project came from the Scottish Government's Town Centres Regeneration Fund awarded to redevelop town centres across Scotland in a bid to encourage investment and footfall to support the high street and local economies.

(GK)