At North Lanarkshire Council’s Active & Creative Communities Committee, Labour and Conservative groups teamed up to ensure vital and cherished venues across North Lanarkshire are to close despite being offered an alternative solution by the SNP Group.
Such venues in Coatbridge & Chryston include the Janet Hamilton Centre, Shawhead Community Centre, The Ian Nicholson Centre, Lochview Golf Course, and Moodiesburn & Stepps Library to name but a few. Further venues across North Lanarkshire include John Smith Pool and the Matt Busby Sports Centre.
Commenting, SNP MSP for Coatbridge & Chryston Fulton MacGregor said;
“I was incredibly disappointed to hear of the outcome at the Council’s Policy and Strategy Committee – an outcome I believe would have been avoidable if the administration had given serious consideration to the SNP Group’s well-thought-out amendment that would have halted these cuts.
““The impact of these closures will be felt in all corners of my constituency – from the closure of the libraries in Moodiesburn and Stepps which leaves the Northern Corridor with only one library – to the closure of Lochview Golf Course in Townhead– a much loved and unique facility that cannot be replaced. Also what will now happen to the fantastic community organisations like Bannans Fitness and the Airdrie & Coatbridge Harriers that have brought so much to so many people. We must fight for them. There will also be a massive impact on jobs at a time of a cost of living crisis. We must also fight for them.
“Closing community facilities like this in an area which already suffers from poor health outcomes and high levels of poverty and deprivation is utterly reckless. The Labour / Tory administration at North Lanarkshire Council is actively choosing not to listen to their constituents which is simply appalling.
“I appreciate the upset this will have caused to so many – I too am upset and disappointed. I will continue to fight for the retention of these facilities where possible and my office and I will be offering whatever support we can to those groups affected – or where suitable to those who wish to pursue a community asset transfer. The council promised more resources into community asset transfers and we now need this to happen”
Fulton MacGregor 