Work about to start on new school buildings

Major housebuilding in Gartcosh and Chryston was a key factor in the areas’ inclusion in North Lanarkshire’s forthcoming £53 million project to build six new schools, says council leader Jim Logue.

The inclusion of new primaries for both areas as part of the next phase of North Lanarkshire’s Schools and Centres 21 building programme was agreed in last month’s local authority budget.

Councillor Logue told the Advertiser: “The number of private houses that have been built there is quite incredible and both schools can no longer cope.

“Our education colleagues tell us that by 2019, new Primary Ones would have to be transported to Coatbridge or Cumbernauld – I think it’s reprehensible that we take children aged five out of their local community and transport them eight miles in one direction or six in the other, so there was pressure to address that.”

Councillors at a recent education committee were given an update on the impact of local developments, and were told that in Gartcosh and Chryston, a total of 1090 new homes have either been built, are or will soon be under construction or are “at final planning stage”.