Full views needed on tower block plan

Dear Editor,

We refer to the Advertiser article concerning the council proposal to demolish all tower blocks in North Lanarkshire [December 20 2017].

We would suggest that the timing of the announcement could be described as a good time to bury bad news.

Both of us have a fair knowledge of the problems affecting Coatbridge town centre, having 70 years’ retail experience between us; and for the past six years, we have been in dialogue the council concerning its framework and action plan.

The small print raises some serious questions to which we, the Coatbridge public and retailers need answers.

Our comments refer solely to Coatbridge’s town-centre boundary as defined in North Lanarkshire local plan.

The article states: “Councillor [ Jim] Logue insists the plans to pull down Monklands’ tower blocks will help the council transform town centres and get more residents living therein”.

Coatbridge local area partnership’s 2017 plan identifies 23 development sites [accommodating] 961 houses. Only two, totalling 11 houses, are within the town centre boundary.

The old library site in Academy Street and the tax office in St John Street may add another 30.

How can you have more people living in the town centre by demolishing three tower blocks, around 600 homes, replacing them with around 40?

Councillor Logue states: “The past few decades have seen a move away from people living in and near town centres.” In our opinion there is no evidence to suggest that this applies to Coatbridge in the timescale quoted.

In response to his quotes in the article – we thought the action plan was designed to regenerate the town centre, and would ask him to explain what advantages people living in the town centre would have, and what type of properties would be created – houses or much-needed shops?

How are the objectives achieved without contracting the Main Street shopping area? Those whose businesses and jobs may be at risk should be consulted.

The town centre framework and action plans were developed after wideranging consultations and passed by the council in December 2015.

What progress has there been in Coatbridge, in implementing the shortterm sections? It would appear to range from somewhere between painfully slow to non-existent; why is this?

Every town centre is different; look at the separate action plans for Coatbridge and Airdrie.

There needs to be much wider consultation than the one proposed on the tower blocks. It should include all town-centre residents, retailers and other businesses – but only after full disclosure by the council of their plans. Roddy Cameron, Cameron Jewellers; and Tom Callaghan, formerly of Monkland Sports