Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Review of the year 2017
Part two
July
People power by Chapelhall residents won a U-turn on council plans to close main route Lauchope Street for five months to improve traffic capacity and movement.
A recycling plant responsible for a plague of flies infesting homes in Shawhead was closed down when the Scottish Environment Protection Agency revoked its licence after scores of complaints about the insects for the second time in a year.
Plains couple Craig and Christina Ferguson enjoyed a magical rescheduled wedding day, two months after groom Craig had received the life-changing call to have a kidney transplant just 48 hours before their original date.
Chapelhall athlete Joe Allan led from the front for the host team as North Lanarkshire staged the British Transplant Games, winning two silver and two bronze medals.
August
Comic book king Mark Millar saw entertainment giant Netflix swoop for his Millarworld company in a megabucks deal, and promised to share his success by helping revitalise his home area of Townhead.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon officially opened the new M8, with its direct sevenmile stretch past Monklands between Newhouse and Baillieston, in a ceremony at Maxim Park.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn visited Coatbridge, speaking at a busy public rally to attack plans to close the town’s DWP office.
Much-loved cardiac rehabilitation nurse Yolander Roache retired after an incredible 39- year career at Monklands Hospital, having worked there since it first opened.
September
A report on Monklands Hospital revealed outstanding required repairs totalling more than £30 million, including drains backing up after heavy rain and leaks in operating theatres.
Monklands residents told their stories of Hurricane Irma after the category five storm in the Caribbean; Alison McClurg and Colin Crawford of Coatbridge and their friends Nicola Morgan and Jamie Logan of Airdrie were forced to evacuate from their Dominican Republic hotel after a red alert.
Passengers on a train targeted by brickthrowing yobs told how they thought they were caught up in a terrorist attack after it was struck by objects launched from a bridge near Bargeddie.
MSPs reflected on the 20th anniversary of the devolution referendum which led to the creation of the Scottish Parliament; Alex Neil and Elaine Smith are both in a select band to have served at Holyrood since its first day.
October
North Lanarkshire Council introduced
its controversial new three-weekly bin collection cycle, with the switchover being described as “chaos” with 9000 required bins not being in place at the start of the new process.
A paedophile who fled Airdrie for Albania when found guilty of trying to groom a teenage boy resurfaced as a monk in Mexico; Roderick Beaumont was discovered as he ordered costumes for children’s yoga figures.
Kirkwood bride and groom Nicola and Ged McKeown had a surprise performance at their reception in St Monica’s hall – leading hardcore DJ act Gunz for Hire popped in to surprise the groom before a gig in Glasgow.
The Advertiser launched its readers’ room appeal to fund construction of a single room at St Andrew’s hospice; it got underway with a £ 5000 donation from the Excelsior Stadium company.
November
Parents hit out at council proposals to reduce school bus eligibility, with more than 8000 signing an online petition and families protesting that some children would face an hour-long walk along a dangerous road. Residents marched in protest against the controversial Europark plans for 2600 houses, shops, restaurants and a hotel – and were joined by politicians Hugh Gaffney, Graham Simpson and new Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard. Mark Millar announced that his Millar Foundation was to begin developing brownfield sites for family homes and would fund local community activities. Airdrie and Coatbridge fell silent and laid wreaths to honour the fallen on Remembrance Sunday.
December
Royal Bank of Scotland announced that its Airdrie branch would close, along with 61 others – saying only 129 customers visit on a weekly basis.
North Lanarkshire Council revealed that it plans to demolish all the area’s tower blocks – including 17 Monklands high rises – over the next two decades as part of a regeneration plan.
Heartless thieves broke into Coatbridge foodbank four days before Christmas; volunteers were then overwhelmed with donations as the local community rallied round.
Delighted Coatbridge parents Lynsey Hay and Anthony Drake were looking forward to their first Christmas with “wee miracles” Elliot and Oliver, who had lifesaving surgery in the womb after developing twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.
We look back at another eventful year in Airdrie and Coatbridge