NEW projects to improve town centres in East Renfrewshire are set to receive a £475,000 boost.

They include the installation of CCTV in Cowan Park, Barrhead, lighting in Newton Mearns and Eaglesham and a statue of Thomas Donohoe – believed to have organised the first football match in Brazil – in Busby.

The money will come from the Town Centre Fund, initially launched by the Scottish Government and COSLA last year.

It saw £50million shared between Scotland’s 32 councils, with money “intended to contribute to transformative investments.”

The fund was set up to support local economies and employment and make town centres “more diverse, successful and sustainable.”

East Renfrewshire Council initially received £981,000, with projects approved at a meeting in November last year.

It has now been awarded a further £353,000 to develop projects which will contribute to economic recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic.

An underspend of around £122,000 from last year’s allocation, as work on one project is being financed through a separate funding stream, can also be used on new schemes.

A council report states: “The Town Centre Capital Fund programme provides an excellent opportunity to deliver further investment to key areas of East Renfrewshire and complement/build upon the range of proposals already approved.”

There has been £80,000 allocated to a campaign to encourage people to shop locally as part of efforts to boost economic recovery in the area.

Plans are also in place to install a CCTV system in Cowan Park, at a cost of £20,000, to improve safety and encourage residents to spend time outdoors.

A total of £100,000 has been earmarked for town centre lighting in Newton Mearns, with £85,000 to be spent in Eaglesham and £5,000 in Clarkston.

These schemes are being planned to “improve the vibrancy” of town centres and improve safety.

Regeneration initiatives in Neilston are set to receive £100,000, with a further £70,000 allocated for the installation of toilets and a new heating system at Busby Library to celebrate the building’s centenary.

The memorial to Mr Donohoe would cost £15,000.

Cabinet members will be asked to approve the funding package at a meeting tomorrow.
Stakeholders within East Renfrewshire were asked to propose ideas.

The chosen projects will need to begin, or have contracts signed, by the end of March next year.