There’s no denying that the floral clock at Kilmarnock Railway Station is in need of a facelift. And very soon, this facelift will be taking place. With a contractor now appointed to carry out the work, the project is programmed to begin on site next month to the delight of all involved in the project.

Over the last couple of years, East Ayrshire Council has worked tirelessly to progress an improvement project for the clock, which will comprise a new clockface, imaginative lighting and hard and soft landscaping. The project has been an extremely complicated one to take forward, not least due to the steep nature of the site and its location at the top end of one of Kilmarnock’s busiest streets. Both these factors have presented real challenges to overcome in terms of the construction methods that can be used and the health and safety measures that must be put in place to reduce any risks to public safety. At all times, the Council has remained mindful of the need to keep the town centre moving, in terms of access to the railway station and traffic flow on John Finnie Street.

The floral clock site is owned by Network Rail, and following detailed negotiation, a lease agreement was signed between East Ayrshire Council, Network Rail and First Scotrail back in June 2010, which was followed by the signing of a Basic Asset Protection Agreement, a further requirement of Network Rail. Since then, work has been ongoing to ensure the project moves ahead. The design of the project has been finalised after taking account of recent site investigations, which threw up some unexpected results.

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Over the last few months work has been ongoing both to procure an appropriate contractor with the experience and expertise to carry out this complex project and to ensure the appropriate insurance cover is held by all relevant parties. In amongst this work, the Council has secured a sizeable grant of £104,000 from the Railway Heritage Trust to complete the financial package for the project.

Currently, the appointed contractor is finalising its Construction Phase Plan, a legal requirement which outlines in specific detail the programme of works and methods of working. Subject to final approval from Network Rail and First Scotrail, who have been kept fully involved to date, the project is anticipated to start on site in November.

Councillor Jim Buchanan, Spokesperson for Delivering Community Regeneration said: ‘Whilst the redevelopment of the floral clock may appear a simple task, it has proven to be a highly complex project, which has thrown up a number of complications.

“The past few months have been frustrating, however the Council has remained fully committed to taking the project forward and we have done everything in our power to make this happen as quickly as possible. I can understand the public’s concern that the clock in its current condition is not pleasing on the eye but very soon it will be transformed.

“Taken together with the improvements carried out through the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Regeneration Fund and the ongoing works to the former opera house site, the redevelopment of the floral clock is another big piece of the jigsaw in the regeneration of this important part of the town centre which has been transformed over the past four years.”

(GK)