PROGRESS is being made on revamping a derelict town centre, according to bosses at Tesco.

The supermarket giant is busy transforming Linwood, in Renfrewshire.

The multi-million pound plan will see the creation of new community facilities, a supermarket and shop units, offering improved local shopping choice and new jobs.

The plans have taken years to get off the ground, and attracted widespread criticism for the time it took for work to begin.

But now that demolition work is finally underway, Tesco welcomed local politicians to the site to update them on progress.

Gloria Coats, Corporate Affairs Manager for Tesco, said: "We are pleased to welcome everyone to the site, demonstrating the progress that we are making towards bringing this significant and exciting development to Linwood.

"We are proud to be delivering this important development and look forward to starting work on the community facilities next year.

"When this work is completed we will relocate Linstone Housing Association, the Tweedie Hall and the library, allowing us to finish demolition and move forward with the construction of the new store.

"We are organising a drop-in session at the beginning of February to update locals on the project and provide more detail about what will be available to customers in the new store.

"We will publicise event details in the New Year.

"We would like to thank everyone who came along today to help mark this significant step in the regeneration of Linwood."

Linwood ward councillors were joined by local MSP Hugh Henry and Jim Sheridan MP, who received a site tour from the contractor, Barr Construction.

Andy Ferguson, unit manager for Barr Construction, said: "We are in the final stages of demolishing Linwood's town centre to make way for new community facilities, supermarket and retail units.

"The demolition has been carried out in stages to allow virtually 100% of the materials to be reused.

"As a local company, it's great for Barr to have an active role in the regeneration of Linwood and we're confident the development will bring new life to the town centre and be a real benefit to residents."

Members of the community can find out more about the Tesco proposals for Linwood by contacting Gloria on tesco@communityline.org or 0845 521 8425.

A year ago, Linwood was dubbed the Most Dismal Town in Scotland in the 'Carbuncle Awards,' and locals have continually voiced concerns that not enough is being done to improve the town.

ewan.fergus@ eveningtimes.co.uk