WESTERN BUREAU — A $6-million project to beautify and attract visitors to Falmouth, the Trelawny capital, got off the ground yesterday.

The work will involve the replacement of old, rusted zinc fences with more attractive block and picket fences.

Member of Parliament for the area, Dr Patrick Harris, who was present at the start of the work, said the Ministry of Water and Housing-funded project will “change the way Falmouth looks forever”.

“We are going to do the main areas of Falmouth first, which include Lower Parade Street, Lower Harbour Street, Duke Street and Market Street, then later we will do the other streets, ” Harris told the Observer.

He did not provide a specific completion date but said the project would be done “as quickly as possible”.

Several civic organisations in Trelawny, including the Chamber of Commerce, have long argued that the town was in dire need of a facelift, in order to attract much needed investors to the area.

More than a year ago, former Member of Parliament for the area, Wendell “Bull Bull” Stewart, launched a $500,000 beautification project in Falmouth dubbed “Falmouth Nice and Clean”; but the work did not impact significantly on the town.

Now, according to his successor, the removal of the zinc fences in the town will help to boost the morale of the residents and help create the right atmosphere for investors.

“We want to make Falmouth the town that residents will be proud of and where visitors will be welcomed and investors will come,” the MP said.

He told the Observer that in recent months he has been having discussions with various groups with the view of developing the town’s tourism product.

“The tourism product for the town is an advanced state of development and we will be making an announcement on that soon,” Harris added.