Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Mixed reaction over business park plans
Chapelhall residents have given a mixed response to news that proposals are in place to build a new business park in the village – which would include a hotel, pub and petrol station.
A pre-application public consultation on i Gray Planning and Development Ltd’s vision will take place in November – with locals also invited to submit their views.
The submission from the firm is for the “formation of a commercial business park” comprising a hotel, leisure and retail facilities, a petrol station, takeaway and pub with associated infrastructure, including drainage, ground treatment and landscaping on land at Lancaster Avenue and Biggar Road.
Details of the site and proposals will be on display at the public meeting, being held in the village’s Mount Pleasant community centre on November 2, from 12.30pm to 6.30pm; and Gray Planning and Development representatives will be on hand to answer questions.
In the meantime, residents have reacted to the proposals in their droves on the Chapelhall Eye community Facebook page – with some optimistic about the prospect of the business park.
Martin Graham said: “This will be a fantastic opportunity for local jobs and business.”
Nadine Paterson added: “The village needs investment like this.
“There will be a good few jobs for people out of this.”
Kerryanne McDermott posted: “Brilliant for the village.”
Gwen Hamilton commented: “Good thing for Chapelhall.”
Others, though, were less impressed by the plans, with Lorna Carlyle asking: “Has anyone considered additional traffic? Lancaster Avenue is like a race track most days.”
Brian Duncan agreed: “Eh, no thanks. Lancaster Avenue is bad enough with all the traffic on it already.
“That greenbelt land there is the only thing between the motorway and the residential houses as it is.”
Carolyn Grant also highlighted Brian’s latter issue: “You will lose the greenbelt.”
Chapelhall residents are invited to attend the public consultation in November, when the developers will be providing comment sheets for people to share thoughts and ideas, which may be “used to refine the plans prior to submission of an application”.
These written submissions will be included in a pre-application consultation report to accompany any future application.
Further information relating to the proposals can be obtained from Gray Planning and Development director Neil Gray by emailing neil@ grayplanning. co. uk or calling 07514 278498.
Villagers willing to make comments on the proposals may do so at the public meeting, or by sending an email to the above address no later than Friday, November 17.
Residents are asked to note that all written representations must be sent to Mr Gray’s email address and not to North Lanarkshire Council as an “opportunity to make representations to the council will exist when a formal planning application is made”.