National Lottery Invests Over £7m in Scottish Town Centre Heritage
More than £7 million of National Lottery funding will be invested in four town centres across Scotland to preserve and restore at-risk heritage sites described as "heritage gems." The funding is provided by the Heritage Fund and will be allocated among Glasgow's Sauchiehall Street, Airdrie in North Lanarkshire, Girvan in South Ayrshire, and Tarbert in Argyll and Bute.
Funding Allocations and Projects
The largest portion of the funding, £2.5 million, is designated for multiple projects in Girvan. These include the renovation of the Stair Park Bandstand, restoration of the "Stumpy Jail" steeple, and improvements to the McKechnie Institute, which currently functions as a cultural hub.
Glasgow's Sauchiehall Street will receive £2.3 million to develop a culture and heritage district as part of the latest phase in the street's revitalization after decades of decline. This investment aims to preserve the historic McLellan Galleries and enable new uses by organizations such as The Scottish Ensemble, Glasgow Film, and the youth charity Articulate. Additionally, the Cameron Memorial Fountain, a drinking fountain and clocktower dating back to 1896, will be restored.
Airdrie is allocated £1.4 million to restore and redevelop Airdrie Library, notable for housing Scotland's smallest public observatory on its roof. A shopfront improvement scheme will also enhance the appearance of the town centre.
North Lanarkshire Council Leader Jim Logue said: "Airdrie was the site of the first public library in Scotland and a key part of our project is the development of the current Airdrie Library, which is also home to the only public observatory held in a public library in Europe.
"The project will create a resource for all our residents, offering facilities and services at the heart of the town."
In Tarbert, Argyll and Bute, £850,000 will be invested to return 10 vacant properties to residential use, repair historic fishermen's store buildings on the quayside, and provide skills training.
Details on Girvan’s Stumpy Jail Restoration
Girvan's Stumpy Jail, the remains of a jail and courthouse constructed between 1825 and 1827 and now the town's most prominent landmark, will have its steeple restored. The site is also known as "Auld Stumpy," a name believed to originate from a Gaelic phrase meaning "Great Circle of Justice." Funding will also support learning and heritage skills projects in the area.
National Lottery Heritage Fund Statement
Eilish McGuinness, chief executive of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, commented on the investments:
"This marks an exciting moment, with fantastic investments in places that connect communities with their heritage gems.
From Glasgow's iconic Sauchiehall Street, a place woven into decades of shared memories, to transforming the oldest public library in Scotland to celebrate the stories, people and places that shape us."
