An online consultation has now been launched, and council staff will be at the Rutherglen Exchange shopping centre from 10am to 4pm today (Thursday 16 May) to hear people’s views face to face. They will also be at the centre from 10am to 4pm on Monday 20 May and Wednesday 22 May.

The purpose of the Rutherglen Town Centre Strategy and Action Plan is to propose a long-term shared vision for the town centre and set objectives and actions to underpin it.

Chair of the Council’s Community and Enterprise Resources Committee, Councillor Robert Brown, said: “Rutherglen Town Centre on our historic Main Street is the heart of the Rutherglen community and we want to ensure it is a vibrant hub, with  shops, community services, leisure, business and homes at the centre of a growing town with an incredible history, heritage and culture.

“Although town centres across South Lanarkshire, and indeed the country, have faced a number of challenges in recent years, Rutherglen Town Centre is, in comparison to a number of similar towns, performing well with high occupancy rates for retail, hospitality and services.

“But it is important to build on this and  to ensure  that what is on offer is what the people of Rutherglen need, want and can access but which also provides an attractive offering for visitors to the town. This is particularly important as we approach the 900th anniversary of the Royal Burgh in 2026.

“Supporting our town centres remains a council priority and we continue to work closely with the appropriate groups and organisations in each town through a partnership approach to achieve our common goals.

“So please, if you have the chance on the dates listed above, take the time to speak to our staff in the shopping centre, and if not please take time to complete the online survey.”