An historic town hall building is being restored to its former glory in time for its centenary year, thanks to over £400,000 of Scottish Government funding.

The Sir John Wilson Town Hall in Airdrie is receiving a facelift which will bring the B-listed building up to date while retaining the original features through a payout from the Town Centre Regeneration Fund.

Alex Neil MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, visited the site to see how work is progressing.

He said: "The Scottish Government recognises the importance of town centres and local high streets to Scotland's economic, social and cultural fabric and town halls are a hugely important part of that.

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"In the face of severe cuts from Westminster, we need our town centres to be a vibrant part of efforts to support and sustain the recovery we are building in Scotland.

"The Town Centre Regeneration Fund is one example of our support and it is very encouraging for me to see at first hand how that is having a real impact here in Airdrie, as it is throughout Scotland.

"I am certain that when it reopens during its centenary year, the re-invigorated Sir John Wilson Town Hall will be an extremely exciting addition to Airdrie town centre."

The £60million Town Centre Regeneration Fund has benefited 66 projects covering every local authority in Scotland, creating almost 1,000 jobs.

The Sir John Wilson Town Hall upgrade is being completed through a TCRF payout of £402,00. The refurbished hall will include new disabled access with a glass-fronted extension and lifts, as well as a new box office, exhibition space, café/bar, repaired stonework and upgraded technical theatre equipment, with the upper hall including a digital cinema.

The project is currently around 40% complete and the town hall is on schedule to reopen in August 2012.

(GK)