Bid for £3.5m as council plans ambitious regeneration of Johnstone and nearby villages

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A bid has been launched for almost £3.5 million in funding which would put Johnstone and nearby villages at the centre of an ambitious regeneration project.The masterplan could see the town linked with Kilbarchan, Bridge of Weir and Houston through a circular route – using existing footways and cycle paths and the restoration of historic buildings such as the Steeple Hall.Renfrewshire Council has applied to the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) for money to develop the project with a complimentary bid to be submitted to Historic Environment Scotland (HES) within a matter of weeks.The move has been praised by councillors who hope the plans – if successful – will revitalise the communities and their landmarks.Renfrewshire Live, the new free app dedicated to bringing you around the clock breaking news, is now available to download.Powered by the Paisley Daily Express, Renfrewshire Live is your go-to source for news, features and sport with live coverage provided direct to the app, seven days a week.The dedicated team of experienced journalists, responsible for the publication of the award-winning Express, will focus on breaking news, day and night, across Renfrewshire’s towns and villages.There is also a dedicated St Mirren section that will follow every kick of the ball with the Buddies.Available on both Android and Apple.

Download here: smarturl.it/RenfrewLiveSocialCouncillor Andy Doig, an independent rep for Johnstone North and Kilbarchan, said: “This should provide the first major upgrade of the Steeple Hall for decades and help the council showcase one of its most iconic buildings in Renfrewshire.“It was built around 1755 and became the first village school and has a bronze statue of Habbie Simpson, the famous 16th