TWO sites in March and a swimming pool In Chatteris are among the places that have recently been spruced up as part of Fenland District Council’s Fenland Renaissance programme to improve the appearance of the district’s street scene.

All the work has been funded through the “Changing Views” strand of the programme.

In March, the long-neglected area on the corner of Dartford Road and Grays Lane, opposite the Hippodrome, has been cleared and colourful raised flower beds introduced. The work has been carried out by members of March Street Pride, FACET, the Community Payback probation scheme and Fenland Slabs paving company.

Elsewhere in the town, the overgrown vegetation around the car park by Collingwoods estate agency has also had a makeover. The car park surface has also been repaired and new litter bins installed.

In Chatteris, a massive mural featuring past movie stars and cartoon characters now covers 80sq ft of boarding on the Empress swimming pool, a former cinema. Long hours have been spent on the mural by artists from Savage Art Studio and members of the town’s Street Pride and In Bloom groups.

Various other projects are currently under way across the district.

Councillor Kit Owen, FDC’s portfolio holder responsible for Shaping Fenland, said: “These kind of improvements not only make our towns nicer places to live in or visit, they also help to attract new businesses and boost confidence in Fenland. That is a very important factor in our economic regeneration and growth.”