A prominent symbol of Lanark 's history is set to be celebrated with a huge horse sculpture costing £55k ready to be installed.
Fundraising for the art installation began earlier this year, and after a successful application recently agreed by South Lanarkshire Council (SLC), the full amount has now been met.
The final £3000 to build the structure was requested by the Lanark Community Development Trust, and is provided by SLC's Lanark Common Good Fund.
The 3m tall sculpture, which is expected to weigh between one and two tonnes will sit atop a 1.5m area of raised ground so that visitors coming into Lanark along Hyndford Road will be able to see it.
It will be made from steel in a mixture of tube, plate, wire and rod to give it a "woven muscular feel".
The Common Good is a fund of money or assets and is administered by a Scottish local authority in respect of former burghs within the area of the local authority.
Back in September, the Lanark Community Development Trust (LCDT) had requested a contribution of up to£10,000 from the Lanark Common Good Fund funding for the commemorative sculpture of a Clydesdale Horse to be sited beside Lanark Auction market.
The LCDT have been running separate fundraising and had agreed to delay their request to SLC until finalising how much money they could raise before submitting the shortfall amount to the council for consideration.
The horse sculpture will be built to celebrate Lanark's heritage and traditions for residents and visitors, whilst providing an educational aspect of the area's history.
A programme of presentations in all the local primary schools is also ready to be delivered as soon as COVID restrictions allow, where each child will be given a copy of a booklet about the history of the Clydesdale Horse.
The Royal Burgh of Lanark Community Council (RBLCC) were consulted for their views and have also backed the project and the original request to consider funding.
During the fundraising drive, Sylvia Russell, chair of LCDT said it was "great news" that they had almost reached their funding target after confirmation of grants of £15,000 from Levenseat Trust and £20,000 the Renewable Energy Fund were agreed in recent months.
Sylvia told Lanarkshire Live : "The trust is celebrating Lanark’s long history of being the home of the Clydesdale horse, which was first bred 300 years ago at a farm just across the Clyde from Lanark.
"The project will advance education by sparking local interest in the Clydesdale horse and Lanark’s agricultural heritage by giving the local community, local schools, and visitors the chance to learn more about their heritage and the history of Lanark.
"This will be done through an engaging schools programme, creation of an information booklet, an art exhibition and, of course, the sculpture."
Delays to the project caused by the pandemic and increases in material costs as a result had meant the overall cost of the project had risen from around £45,000 to £55,000.
However, with the full funding now agreed, the LCDT plan to have it installed as early as April 2022.
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