ENTERING Carluke by road could be about to become a whole lot more interesting!
For Carluke Development Trust plans to spend thousands of pounds on introducing roadside 'welcome points' - featuring specially carved stonework with a Carluke flavour and a range of colourful flowers - at five or six gateways to the town.
Included in the ambitious 'Green Routes and Gateways' plan are routes into Carluke from Lanark, Mauldslie Road, Newhouse and Carnwath Road.
The design process is still at an early stage and funding and planning permission isn't yet finalised, but it is expected that the first of the Town Gateways will be up and running within a year.
This is an exciting prospect for Carluke Development Trust chairman Tom Sneddon, one of the committee members who outlined the proposal at a May 22 public consultation meeting in the Community Centre.
''The gateways are to give a signal that there is civic pride in Carluke,'' Tom (55) said.
''We are proud of where we stay and want to make a statement by presenting a positive image to people coming into the town.
''It is a way of advertising Carluke and generating other interest in the town for people who want to buy houses or start businesses here.
''Town Gateways is an idea the Trust has been considering for the past five or six years and follows on from the recent upgrade of Carluke High Street.
''The public consultation was the first part of the process. We will now do a costing and work out an action plan.''
The project is being supported by South Lanarkshire Council's Hamish Neilson and Niall McShannon, head of Clydesdale Community Initiatives.
Niall's group - which allows adults with learning difficulties to do community work - has already completed successful projects at Gateway to Carnwath, Lanark's Wallace Garden and Lanark Loch.
And the Carluke Town Gateways will present them with another exciting challenge.
''We'll need a working party of between 15 and 20 to undertake the work,'' Carluke Development Trust director Alistair Mackie told the Gazette.
''And it's a great benefit to have the adults with learning disabilities involved, as it lets them meet and work together with Trust members and other local people.''
Alistair said that other Carluke institutions which could be incorporated into the gateway stonework included coal mining, strawberry growing, agriculture and General Roy.
''The gateways will identify the town as people are coming into it,'' he said.
''We hope to improve the environment for our townspeople. We want to make Carluke look more beautiful.''
And Tom revealed that some ideas have already been put forward.
''There will be iconic symbols at each of the gateways,'' he added.
''Carluke's skyline is dotted with towers - like St Luke's Tower in the cemetery - and other tall landmarks like the Caradale Brickworks chimney.
''St Luke's Tower is a definite possibility for a stonework structure.
''It is symbolic, recognisable and has historic connotations.
''It could be decorated as a landscape feature, with flowers, grass and ivy at the base.
''We are still looking for people to contact us with other suggestions.''
Carluke Development Trust wants to hear suggestions from Gazette readers or garden centre representatives relating to the planning, design and building stages of the new Town Gateways. Contact Alistair on 01555 772078.