Scottish Catholic Observer

North Lanarkshire Council has announced plans to enhance the public space around Motherwell Cathedral (above), a beautiful red sandstone church, designed by Peter Paul Pugin, built in 1900.

Working with the diocese, the council has developed a design to open up the cathedral forecourt into the street to create a public space, which will be formed by removing part of the boundary wall and raising a section of the road up to the level of the forecourt. The diocese has put forward plans for the extension and enhancement of the cathedral grounds to create a memorial garden for quiet contemplation and an area for the congregation to gather.

A spokesman for Motherwell Diocese said it was ‘delighted with the prospect of Motherwell Cathedral… being opened up to the surrounding area’ as ‘it is is undeniably an architectural jewel and deserves to be regarded as a prized possession by and for the people of Lanarkshire.’

A 133-space car park is being built by the council on part of the site of the former Cathedral Primary School in Scott Street as part of the part of the town centre action plan and the streetscape project. It is is expected to open by the end of the year.

Work will also start on the fourth phase of the overall town centre improvements in early in 2014.

—Full report in next week’s SCO, in parishes November 8.