That's the verdict this week from one of the main players in the £22 million project to rejuvenate Grangemouth's main shopping areas.

The venture seems to be taking a long time to get started in terms of submitting an actual planning application.
But Pete Reid, Falkirk Council's principal surveyor for town centre regeneration, is keen to stress the developers – Baronsgate Estates,
Winex Services and the council itself – have not exactly been idle.

"The community needs to be made aware there has been a lot of work going on behind the scenes,'' he said.

''We cannot move on any faster than statutory planning procedures will allow and this development will inevitably be looked at very closely by the Health and Safety Executive.

"There is always a phenomenal amount of work involved in pulling together a regeneration plan together. You have to consider the design, consultations, roads and many more aspects.

"And that's before you even get into the planning application phase – the council is bringing things forward at the best possible speed.

"With Grangemouth we are not demolishing it and building it up again – we are building on the existing town.

''Much has been made about the people who are leaving the town, but a lot of the traders are desperate to get the message across they are investing in the town.

"For instance Lloyds Pharmacy recently moved to larger premises and Scotland's butcher of the year, Paul Conway, has moved to Grangemouth in place of Malcolm Allan – so there is investment being made."

The amended masterplan is out for public consultation until the end of March and copies of the plans can be found in Grangemouth's library, leisure centre, one stop shop and on a board in La Porte Precinct.

It is hoped an outline planning application will be lodged with Falkirk Council by spring or early summer.

"The community has expressed strong support for this development," said Mr Reid. "But they have also come back and told us the concerns they have.

"We have tried to address those concerns as best we can."

The most visible, and attractive, feature of the revised proposals is the new library and museum facility, which was made possible after the developers bought the former bingo hall on Bo'ness Road.

The plans have ground floor shopping facilities and a first floor museum being created on the site of the bingo hall, while the new library will be joined on to the town hall, which will be substantially refurbished to enable greater community use and give people a more attractive facility.

An enclosed first floor link will then be created over the ground floor pedestrian access, so people visiting the museum can walk over to the library and the town hall.

"It just shows how well the space can be used," said Mr Reid. "This will really strengthen the role that Bo'ness Road plays in the town and create greater pedestrian flow.

"We knew when Asda opened it would affect trade in the town. While that store has been welcomed by the community it has made trading difficult in the town centre. What we have done is strengthen the link between the Asda store and the town centre.

''Of course this is still all subject to consultation and planning procedure. But it shows we have responded to what people wanted."

j.trimble@falkirkherald.co.uk