Centre provides new focus for retailing

Centre which was first developed in the 1960s. Central Regional Council,

being not only a policy making body but also an institution which is

committed to ''making things happen'' and to overseeing the progress and

the development of these things, realised that the centre was beginning

to show signs of advanced wear and tear by the late 1980s.

Something therefore had to be done.

Town centre improvements, however, are never easy or cheap or quick to

bring to fruition.

As the landlord of the then Callendar Centre, Central Regional Council

recognised that more than a mere facelift was needed and set about

instigating negotiations for its redevelopment. Contractors had begun

construction of the new scheme in the summer of 1989 but the recession

farther south brought the company into receivership. This therefore

meant that contractors who were approached for quotations to finish the

scheme were largely bidding in the dark, not knowing what they would

find on-site when work was resumed. Furthermore, funding for the scheme

was hard to find until finance eventually became forthcoming from Arab

Banking Corporation International and from Morgan Grenfell. What was

still needed, however, was a guarantor to stand surety.

It was in 1991 that Central Region stepped in to do so. As convener

Anne Wallace stated, ''the council underwrote the Callendar Square deal

to the tune of #13m. That's a huge investment but the council is big

enough to take the risk involved in working with that amount of money.''

As a member of the board of Callendar Square Ltd, the council was able

to lend its not inconsiderable expertise to the management of the

building engineering process. Work on the construction and

reconstruction was started by AMEC Construction Scotland in October of

last year and at the same time the council further committed itself by

undertaking to complete the 500-space multi-storey car park for the

scheme (at an estimated cost of #1.7m).

The square itself has been carefully designed to make sure that the

shoppers' experience is a pleasant one. The council's literature states

that shoppers ''will be encouraged to linger and enjoy the atmosphere.''

Space in the area totals more than 200,000sq ft and in it there are

shops on three levels. These separate shop units are 53 in number and

accommodate the likes of Ideal Home (which will be selling household

goods and gifts), Mark One (already a well-established fashion retailer

south of the Border), Iceland Foods, Amadeus Fashion, Proposals

Bridalwear, and Acorn Gallery.

Callendar Square therefore provides a new focus for retailing in

Scotland. It also provides something of a natural meeting place and will

endeavour to put a new heart into the town centre of Falkirk itself.

Integral to the scheme is a 200-seat food court and restaurant run by

the Falkirk company of Mathiesons. Kirkmichael Developments (which

currently operates the UK's second largest indoor market) will be

running the 40-stall market hall and, on a more practical note, creche

and baby-change facilities are provided.

As noted above, the formal opening will take place on Saturday.

Scotland's most famous shopkeeper, Eileen McCallum (better known as

Isobel Blair in Take the High Road) will do the offical honours along

with Regional Council Convener Anne Wallace.

Festivities organised for the day will include cartoon entertainers, a

show band, puppet and magic shows, a pipe band, and -- last but not

least -- the centre's mascot, Calley the Callendon.

Callendar Square complements the Howgate Centre, Falkirk's first

indoor shopping centre (with 42 shops, a terrace restaurant, creche,

market hall, and 700 parking spaces). Pedestrianisation has also been

created in Cow Wynd and local businesses have already reported increased

takings of some 40%, almost all of this the result of the completion of

works like these.

Work has been carried out on road improvements in and around the

centre of the town. In addition and in conjunction with the local shop

owners, the East End Regeneration Programme will transform the

appearance of shops along the main approach to Callendar Square itself.

Nearby, plans are in hand for the refurbishment of the bus station,

for traffic calming measures, and for the possibility of introducing a

permanent park-and-ride system for the town.

As with any other town of its size, Falkirk is changing. In 1989 it

became the first place in Scotland to appoint its own town centre

manager The marketing activities of this team has led to an increase in

turnover between 1989 and 1991 of some 10%.