ON A MISSION
Plans for a futuristic project which would cover part of the River Cart were unveiled before excited town chiefs at district headquarters.
It was proposed to build a shopping centre over the river, just facing the town hall – and it was reckoned the project would cost anything up to £2million.
Five different firms submitted plans for the‘super market’, which would cover the river from Bridge Street to Old Sneddon Street.
It was 1959 and the project began to gather pace after a public meeting of Paisley Town Council, which lasted just a few minutes.
Council members remained in chambers after the public had left and were told that no fewer than five reputable companies, with extensive financial resources, were eager to build the new centre as a profit-making private enterprise – and at no cost to the ratepayer.
Detailed plans, artists’drawings and other details as to how they proposed to tackle such a complex job were also made known to the town’s fathers.
One elaborate scale model of the project, which was estimated to have cost hundreds of pounds to make, was exhibited in front of the councillors.
The area involved was 188,000 square feet and one of the most interesting proposals put forward. It provided for 60 shops in a covered arcade, a 40-bedroom