North Lanarkshire Council has announced a project developing former industrial land into a country park area has entered its final phase.

Work has now started on the restoration of the South Calder River.

The Stane Gardens area in Shotts is being redeveloped into a park facility, including paths, seating and planting along with a natural river environment.

The council is working alongside the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to create the £3.6 million project, contributing a total of £1.5 million.

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£1.65 million will be provided from the Water Environment Fund, administered by SEPA on behalf of the Scottish Government, and £450,000 from the Scottish Government Vacant and Derelict Land Fund.

Contractor TAL Civil Engineering has completed all the major landscaping work on the site and will now begin removing the South Calder from the existing culvert and restoring a natural, winding river from Burnbrae Road eastwards.

Two footbridges will also be developed and link to the path network.

Councillor Helen McKenna said: "The new park is really taking shape now, and over the next few months the community will see exciting developments on site as the river channel is constructed.

"By working in partnership with SEPA we have been able to remove the problem of historical contamination, and bring new life to the site."

Construction work is expected to be completed in September, with the paths and access routes being finished before planting and seeding is carried out the following year.

(LM)