£113m plan will put the heart back into hard-hit Barrhead

IT WAS once one of Scotland's industrial powerhouses - famous throughout the world for its engineering, pottery and bathroom fittings.

IT WAS once one of Scotland's industrial powerhouses - famous throughout the world for its engineering, pottery and bathroom fittings.

Barrhead was sustained through most of the 20th century by heavy industry, which employed thousands of workers and sparked a housing boom.

But the heart was ripped out of town by the decline in manufacturing.

Over the past two decades, more than 1500 jobs were lost as major employers, such as Armitage Shanks, Volvo, Nestle and Arriva, left the area.

But now finally work is set to start on a £113million masterplan to revive Barrhead's fortunes and create new homes, shops, community facilities and transport links.

The 10-year strategy includes a new supermarket, college, train station, affordable homes, civic square and an £18m health centre.

It aims to attract millions of pounds of fresh investment and hundreds of new jobs.

Councillor Eddie Phillips, who represents Auchenback, one of the town's most deprived areas, said: "I think these various projects will change the psyche of the whole of Barrhead.

"We have talked about it for years but it's finally starting to happen.

"People here will feel more confident because they will be able to see the town actively regenerate around them. There is nothing like concrete and brick to make people feel that progress is being made."

Most of the £113m will come from the private sector but the council is set to contribute around £10m.

The first phase is scheduled to start around Easter with improvements to Glen Street. The road surface will be realigned and widened to improve access to the proposed site for a new supermarket.

A number of chains have declared an interest in the development but it's understood that Tesco, which already has a smaller store in the town, is the frontrunner.

Meanwhile, approval for a new £11m college designed to plug Scotland's skills gap is expected in the summer.

East Renfrewshire College would offer practical courses to more than 3500 school-leavers.

The proposal is a joint venture between Reid Kerr College in Paisley and Cardonald and Langside in Glasgow and will provide training for plumbers, electricians and tradesman.

The college, off Main Street, will open by the end of next year, if the cash can be secured, and the campus will also include a library, creche and arts space.

Around 230 new homes have been earmarked for Auchenback and other potential sites in and around Main Street are being looked at for further development.

Tony Buchanan, East Renfrewshire's regeneration convener, said: "We want to make the town more vibrant and a nicer place to live for old and new residents alike.

"There is a consensus that Barrhead needs regenerated and we need to make sure the community is on board."

Developers have submitted proposals to regenerate the former site of the old Nestle-owned Purina pet food complex, which closed down in 2005 with the loss of 200 jobs.

The derelict factory would be demolished to make way for 120 homes, a neighbourhood centre, a fast-food restaurant and a car showroom.

The scheme is phase one of a wider regeneration programme earmarked for the proposed Levern Park, which will eventually cover around 75 acres and create 500 jobs.

Arguably, one of the cornerstones of the masterplan is the town's new £18m health centre, which will be built on the former site of Carlibar Primary.

Patients will be able to access minor surgery, physiotherapy, community nursing and day-care support, under one roof for the first time. The centre will aim to address Barrhead's poor health record.

The average life expectancy for men in the east side of town is 70, compared with 78.4 for East Renfrewshire as a whole.

Women can expect to live until 76, five years shorter than the 81.3 average for the rest of the local authority.

Councillor Jim Fletcher, leader of East Renfrewshire Council, said: "The next 10 years are absolutely crucial for the development of Barrhead. The town has its first real opportunity in more than a quarter of a century to turn the corner."

Word on the Barrhead streets
MARY McDONALD, 71, retired, Barrhead: The council building on Main Street is an eyesore. I think the planned health centre should be further up, but a college for the area might be all right.	IAIN GRAHAM, 46, sales, Glasgow: The Main Street needs regeneration - it's looking a bit down. But how is a supermarket going to benefit the local economy, especially if it's Tesco and it wipes out local businesses?	LEANNE McLAUGHLIN, 25, mum, Nitshill: Barrhead needs more small shops.A college would be a good idea. It's about time someone got their finger out and started this regeneration.

JEANETTE NIVEN, 64, retired, Barrhead:

I haven't given regeneration much thought, but a college would probably do a lot of good for the young ones. It's long overdue - they have been talking about it for enough years."

DOUGIE FISHER, 26, business development, Ibrox:

The Main Street probably needs an overhaul. You need more than £120million.I don't really see the advantage of a college with Cardonald and Paisley close by.