Work has commenced on a £350,000 project to enhance the streetscape of Lanark town centre.

The project, a collaboration between South Lanarkshire Council and Discover Lanark, is funded by the Scottish Government's Place-Based Investment Programme and The Levenseat Trust.

Improvements will focus on an area adjacent to the historic Tolbooth, with key features including: new seating areas; upgraded lighting; raised planters.

These enhancements aim to create a more welcoming and accessible public space for the community.

A distinctive element of the project, originally conceived and consulted upon by Discover Lanark, is the incorporation of several historical features, including:

• Granite surfacing featuring 16 roundels designed by artist Steve Pardue, celebrating the town trades listed in the Burgh Records of 1653.

• New signage detailing the history of the area, including the Tolbooth, with illustrations by artist Ronnie Cruwys.

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• Relocation and interpretation of a replica March stone.

• Relocation of an existing commemorative water pump in memory of Janice Plenderleith.

The project is expected to enhance the visual appeal of the town centre and contribute to a more vibrant and engaging public realm for residents and visitors.

Antonia Pompa, BID Manager at Discover Lanark, is confident that the project will bring a new dimension to the historic town centre. She explained: "During the Covid period, several spaces, including this one on High Street, were used on a temporary basis as a focal point, where people could safely come together. At the time, anecdotal feedback suggested the community would welcome the idea of these becoming permanent spaces.

"So, when the opportunity to apply for Place-Based Funding became available, the seed of an idea had been sown and we created a project that considered not just this desire for safe, formal space but one which reflects the story of our town. Public response through a series of consultations was overwhelmingly positive, and there is genuine excitement now that the plan is about to come to fruition."

Councillor Robert Brown, Chair of the council's Community and Enterprise Resources committee, also warmly welcomed the work, which is expected to be complete by the end of April. He added: "This is a plan that has been imaginatively and sensitively designed to reflect the existing public realm in Lanark High Street, but at the same time it will deliver a new and unique community space.

"Those who live and work in Lanark as well as those who visit will find a more usable, attractive, and reflective space, interwoven with bespoke touches reflecting the Royal Burgh's rich and diverse history. I commend Discover Lanark, and our own Community and Enterprise teams, for bringing forward such an exciting project."