It’s thumbs-up to a £45m spending spree
Councillors approve five-point makeover plan
An ambitious £ 45million masterplan to revive parts of Paisley was given the green light by councillors yesterday.
As revealed in the Express last Friday, the funding package will bring five key improvements. These are: Refurbishment and upgrades to Paisley Town Hall, worth £22million,
A fresh look for Paisley Arts Centre, priced at £2.5million,
A new arts venue at the former Galbraith's site in Back Sneddon Street, costed at £3.5million,
£10m worth of improvements to Paisley town centre, and
A £7.7million upgrade to St James' Playing Fields near the M8 motorway.
A meeting of Renfrewshire Council yesterday morning agreed to set aside funds for these major infrastructure as part of the wider push to transform Paisley's future using the power of its internationally-significant heritage and cultural story.
Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson said: “The package of measures unveiled shows the scale of our ambition for Paisley and Renfrewshire over the next decade.
“We are making sure Paisley is equipped to host the UK City of Culture title while also supporting the wider vision to use our unique and internationally-significant heritage and cultural story to transform the area's future.
“Paisley town centre needs a boost – and the way we can deliver that is by using what sets us apart to bring people back into the town."
The news comes as the town – the only Scottish place to make the final UK City of Culture 2021 shortlist – prepares to submit its bid to the UK Government's Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport tomorrow.
The massive investment will support the long- term future of some of the town's historic venues and the wider regeneration of Paisley – while also ensuring the town is ready to host the 2021 title should it be announced as the winner.
The 135-year-old town hall will get a major modernisation, a new electrical system and improvements to the main hall, stage and lighting, plus a new function suite, kitchen and bar.
A £ 10m boost for the town centre will be spent on boosting transport and sprucing up the area. This includes cash being spent on roads, public transport and pedestrian access as well as improvements to buildings and lighting.
The St James' Playing Fields redevelopment includes creating an area for large outdoor events, upgraded grass pitches, a new pavilion and café and an upgrade to Ferguslie Park Sports Centre.
And the disused former Galbraith's warehouse in Back Sneddon Street will become a venue capable of hosting large-scale art exhibitions such as the Turner Prize, which typically goes to the UK City of Culture host.
This money will only be spent should Paisley win the 2021 title.
Paisley Arts Centre will get a new electrical system, toilets, dressing rooms, seats and staging as well as access improvements.
The money committed yesterday is over and above funding previously set aside for three projects that are already under way.
These are: the new museum store in High Street, opening later this year; the new Paisley library to be built further up the same street and a £42m revamp of Paisley Museum, for which it was announced yesterday that £ 4.9m of National Lottery money has been earmarked.
Paisley is joined on the final UK City of Culture 2021 shortlist by Coventry, Stoke, Sunderland, and Swansea, with a decision due in December.
There has never been a Scottish winner and the bid is due to be officially sent off today with a mass public show of support at Paisley Cross from 10.30am.