WORK to improve the condition of a Johnstone square is due to start later this year. 

An £80,000 renovation to Houstoun Square, which will see lighting enhancements to the night-time environment, including the bandstand and war memorial, is scheduled to begin in April. 

Council chiefs hope to secure a contract for the work soon with the aim to complete the transformation by the end of June. 

The condition of the bandstand has long been a bone of contention for residents, with Johnstone Business Consortium chairman Allan Henderson previously voicing his concerns.

Johnstone councillor Andy Doig has called on the council to begin the work sooner, rather than later. 

He said: “The improvements to Houstoun Square, which is the cleaning of the War Memorial and the renovation of the heritage lighting are very dear to my heart and to many of my Johnstone constituents.

“The sooner the council can deliver this new look for Houstoun Square, the better. I am also very proud that these upgrades were my idea and that it was my Independent casting vote which delivered them last year in the Council budget.”

The work is part of plans to pump £1.46million into sites in Renfrewshire with the aim of bringing vacant buildings back into use and supporting community-led regeneration. 

The sum was made available as part of the Scottish Government’s £50m Town Centre Capital Fund. 

A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: “New lighting will be installed around the perimeter of Houstoun Square in Johnstone and at the bandstand and war memorial as one of a series of town centre investments funded through the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Capital Fund. 

“We are on schedule for the works to start in spring.”

Read all the latest from Renfrewshire and beyond