New
Works Start in Historic Falkirk Churchyard
The
£900,000 redevelopment of Falkirk Old and St Modan’s Churchyard project takes
another significant step forward this week as contractors start on
environmental works in and around the historic churchyard within Falkirk town
centre.
This
investment project will put the 'Faw Kirk' churchyard back into the historic
heart of the town centre, to make an attractive town centre location telling
the rich history of the churchyard to the Falkirk visitors, shoppers and Bairns.
Early tree and shrub removal in February has already visually opened the
churchyard up to visitors making it more open and bright.
As
outlined during the community consultation phases, the project will see a
improvement to the visitor experience on the historical site and will feature
improvements to visitor information; improvements to footpaths; improved car
parking; new lighting and CCTV; installation of feature seating and; restoration
and conservation of ironworks on the site.
Key
heritage stonework and restored iron features as well as stone carvings
interpreting the rich history of Falkirk , the church and the churchyard will be
delivered over the coming months.
New,
high quality heritage surfaces in keeping with the churchyard environmental
improvements will also be laid on the High Street and at Kirk Wynd at the key
visitor access points to the church grounds. Short term inconvenience is
expected to be caused to local retailer deliveries in these streets and
temporary arrangements will be put in communicated and put in place.
In
addition the bus interchange in Newmarket Street is being fully upgraded to meet
modern public transport expectations.
New
site information boards (on Newmarket Street and on High Street) are being
erected to give residents and visitors a flavour of the project as works get
underway. The contract is being delivered by JKF (Group) Ltd on behalf of
Falkirk Council and is expected to be completed in October
2010.
Cllr
Adrian Mahoney, Convener of Economic Strategy and Development said: ‘The work
will certainly transform this historical site into a far more vibrant and
interesting place for people to relax in and to explore and has been fully
supported by the Falkirk BID Management Group as a key objective for improving
the town centre shopping experience for visitors and
shoppers.
‘It
will also provide a valuable link between the primary and secondary areas of
retailing in the town and encourage footfall to our town centre as well
as easier movement between these two areas.
‘Our
earlier works have been a success on site and we are confident that we are able
to take this stage of the project forward as quickly as we
can.
‘We’re
also working with retailers in the area to ensure that deliveries to their
premises are as unaffected as possible during this time.’
Funding
for the project came from the Scottish Government's Town Centres Regeneration
Fund awarded to redevelop town centres across Scotland in a bid to encourage
investment and footfall to support the high street and local economies.