ARTISTIC impressions of three significant development projects in Barrhead have been revealed.

The impressive graphics show how sections of the town and the rest of East Renfrewshire could look once the transformational £23.5 million Glasgow City Deal works are completed.

Plans are currently in place to link the town to the M77 motorway, build a new train station close to Auchenback and transform Dams to Darnley Country Park into a must-visit leisure destination.

Councillors are now backing each of the ambitious projects to bear fruit for the area.

East Renfrewshire Council’s convenor for Infrastructure and Growth Tony Buchanan said: “It’s really exciting to see the images that have been produced for these key projects.

“It really brings each of them to life and gives you an insight into what it’s going to be like.

“The City Deal projects will play an important part in developing East Renfrewshire’s local economy, as well as creating jobs and improving business opportunities.

“We are committed to delivering a better future for all of our residents and these projects will play a major part in helping us to achieve this goal.

“East Renfrewshire has already delivered the first City Deal project with the opening of Crossmill Business Centre earlier this year, and now we are moving forward with our plans for these other key developments.”

A £1 million project will see a section of Balgraystone Road opposite St Luke’s High undergo reconstruction in spring 2017.

The work is scheduled to finish later that year and will include an access road to the proposed new railway station and enable housing development, as well as a direct route to Dams to Darnley Country Park.

As part of the £7.5 million redevelopment, two stretches of Aurs Road will be realigned, while a new roundabout will be installed to allow entry to a new visitor centre at the country park.

A road bridge is also going to be replaced on the road which serves as the main route between Barrhead and Newton Mearns.

Barrhead councillor Tommy Reilly is convinced the rejuvenation works will benefit the town in the long-term.

He said: “I think they’re quite exciting going forward. Any better connections we can have to the motorway are good because they are an encouragement for smaller businesses.

“The whole package is over a long period of time and the sooner we can make a start on it the better.

“It’s all about improving infrastructure.”

The artist’s impression of the new train station and bus interchange offers an insight into how the £11 million project will look once it is completed in 2019.

The site, off Springhill Road and just south of the Jerry Park, is part of East Renfrewshire Council’s larger plan for “Barrhead South” which will eventually see the construction of more than 1,000 new homes to the south of the town.

As a new stop on the Glasgow to Neilston line, it is anticipated the improved public transport service will give residents better access to jobs and the surrounding areas.

The improvements planned for reshaping Dams to Darnley Country Park include a £4m visitor centre on the north shore of Balgray Reservoir that will offer spectacular views of the 1,350-acre country park.

Plans are also under way to create a wakeboard park at Balgray Reservoir in two years’ time.

Councillor Reilly believes the local community will appreciate the Glasgow City Deal investment and said: “The new train station makes sense if they’re going to build a lot of homes and hopefully it will take some traffic off the roads as well.

“The Dams to Darnley Country Park redevelopment is great for the future. There are more and more water activities taking place, especially because of the Olympics.

“We’ve got this right on our doorstep so it would be great to encourage it even as a seasonal activity.”

Fellow Barrhead councillor Kenny Hay is adamant the redevelopment of Dams to Darnley Country Park will represent a positive change.

He said: “The Dams has been well used for people fishing over the years but I think we can enhance the area for more people.

“It’ll certainly be a massive change to that area and mostly a change for the better. I think it really is underutilised.

“If we can get youngsters involved in water sports rather than sitting about playing PlayStations then that’s a only a positive.

“I know some people have been critical. There are some people saying it will spoil the look of the Dams.

“The old Dams road is not a good road, especially in winter if you’re trying to get from Barrhead to Newton Mearns. Now is a chance to get a lot of improvements done.”

Councillor Hay added: “It may upset one or two people who prefer it the way it is but I think the vast majority will see it as a good thing.

“I think these are all positive changes and can only enhance Barrhead and make it a more attractive place to come and stay.”

For more information about each of East Renfrewshire’s City Deal projects, go to www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/glasgowcitydeal