Falkirk Council has said it is to continue to rollout its town centre regeneration scheme.

To date, the strategy has helped to attract more than £34m of investment and grants to town centres across the council area. Now, the scheme will expand to help maximise future potential business opportunities in Falkirk, Grangemouth, Bo'ness and Stenhousemuir.

An independent consultant will be used to review achievements to date, and advise on plans to sustain regeneration, attract further investment and maximise business development opportunities.

In particular, the report emphasised the need to update the Council's regeneration strategy as this will:

• Help to prepare a response to the Scottish Governments' recent National Review of Town Centres across Scotland

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• Help to progress the work of the 'Think Falkirk' group, an initiative jointly set up between the council and local retailers and businesses to improve Falkirk's town centre trading environment

• Review and prepare development opportunities that exist in both Bo'ness and Grangemouth town centres which, like so many town centres have faltered due to the national economic downturn

• Confirm the next steps in the progress of Denny town centre's regeneration.

In addition, the meeting heard how a number of notable successes had been made in relation to all of the town centres including:

• Completion of Stenhousemuir's regenerated town centre

• Concluded the prestigious Bo'ness Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI)

• Progressing the regeneration of Denny's town centre

• Delivering a Falkirk town centre THI valued at £3.6m

• Continuing the ongoing relationship with partners to support retailers in town centres.

Councillor Dennis Goldie, spokesperson for Economic Development said: "Town centres across the country are changing and we are doing our utmost to enhance our town centres and help to meet the expectations of shoppers, visitors and businesses alike.

"We have achieved a number of notable successes to date and we are continuing to progress our plans in other locations.

"As the economy hopefully moves out of the downturn this is the ideal time to refresh our approach and confirm how we can take real opportunities for our town centres forward."

(JP/IT)