Thornliebank Primary pupils help unveil town centre improvements

Published: 25 February 2025

Colourful new artwork inspired by pupils from Thornliebank Primary's take on the textile printing heritage of the area has helped to give the lanes behind Main Street a much needed makeover.  The lanes also now benefit from the addition of new solar lighting to light up dark areas of pathway, new planting and fencing, and a new staircase and ramp to make Thorntree Hall more accessible. Improvements to the adjacent carpark are due to start soon.

Local Councillors, council officers, LMA architects, Scott & Simmons architects and the contractors - Mackenzie Construction who are based in Thornliebank - met with pupils from Thornliebank Primary to see the transformation.

£627,000 in UK and Scottish Government funding has benefitted Thornliebank over the past two years and is helping to improve the facilities and look of the town for both local residents and visitors.

• The lanes improvement project plus planned car park improvements is funded via £229,000 from UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund.
• A new play area located in the Thornliebank playing fields was built in 2024 with state-of-the-art equipment including climbing frames, slides and accessible swings and roundabouts for children to enjoy. Further improvements are now underway to provide additional parking and benches, resurfaced paths and better drainage. These works, totalling £223,000 were funded from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Scottish Government.
• Independent shops and businesses on the town's Main Street were also given the opportunity to apply for grants to help improve the appearance of shopfronts. A total of £175,000 was available through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. A variety of businesses have been successful in their applications and have already installed new windows, entrances and lighting, with the remaining works set to be completed in the coming months.

Councillor Danny Devlin, Convener for Environment and Housing, said: "I'm delighted that this investment has taken place in Thornliebank. The funding has helped to brighten up these back lanes while celebrating the rich textile industry heritage of the area, as well as allowing us to create a fantastic play area for young people and improve the look of the busy Main Street. We're committed to supporting residents, visitors and our business community in any way we can; these projects have created safe, accessible and high-quality facilities, as well as providing a welcome boost for the local economy. Our thanks go to the pupils from Thornliebank Primary for inspiring our artwork, local businesses for getting involved and our teams and contractors for getting the projects underway and completed. I would encourage anyone who hasn't been to Thornliebank for a while to come and check out the new improvements and pop in to the local shops."

Craig Waton, Project Manager from Mackenzie Construction (based in Thornliebank) said: "As the contractors responsible for delivering this fantastic environmental improvement project, Mackenzie Construction wants to extend our thanks to East Renfrewshire Council for their vision, support, and collaboration throughout the project. It has been a pleasure working to enhance the local area and create a space that the community can enjoy. Perhaps the most rewarding aspect has been incorporating the incredible artwork from local primary school children, adding a unique and personal touch that brings colour and vibrancy to the space. This project is a testament to what can be achieved when councils and contractors work hand in hand with the community. By combining expertise, dedication, and a shared goal, we have created lasting improvements that benefit everyone."