Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
£20k boost for village welcomed
Councillor secures funds
The Chapelhall community is being invited to have their say on how a fivefigure grant donated to the village is spent.
The £ 20,000 funding was secured by Airdrie South councillor Paul Di Mascio from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust charity.
Mr Di Mascio is urging residents to turn out at a special public meeting and information evening taking place in the Chapelhall senior citizens’ centre at 7pm tonight, when representatives from the trust will be on hand to provide more details of the village’s cash boost.
The councillor told the Advertiser: “I would ask as many people as possible from across the community to attend tonight’s gathering.
“The decision on the use, or uses, of this funding will come down to the community itself.
“The aim will be to open up a full debate on potential projects that will benefit the community involving local schools, community groups and the issuing of a survey questionnaire, all culminating in a family fun day in a few months’ time.
“Once all of the ideas and petitions have been submitted, the Coalfields Regeneration Trust will release funding for the successful projects.”
Mr Di Mascio added: “The trust will also build a community action plan taking in all of the information collated during the discussion process.
“They will continue working within the community, particularly on the ideas, issues and goals raised during this process, in order to benefit the village over the lifespan of a five-year action plan they will produce.
“All sections of the community can get involved and bring their ideas and suggestions to the table.
“This is an excellent opportunity for the village and I wish to thank the Coalfields Regeneration Trust for their funding.”
The Coalfields Regeneration Trust is the leading regeneration organisation dedicated to improving the quality of life in Britain’s former mining communities.
Since 1999, the charity has invested hundreds of millions of pounds into projects that “make a positive difference to the lives of people in our target communities across Britain”.
Anyone wishing to enquire about the funding, or looking for further details, can email their queries and requests to Councillor Di Mascio on dimasciop@northlan.gov.uk
The community can get involved