Local funding decision

Public meetings

Monklands residents are invited to have their say on how new community funding should be spent.

The Advertiser told last week how Airdrie local area partnership will receive more than £ 1 million and Coatbridge will be handed £894,000 for improvement projects over two years.

Members of the public can now share their views on how the funds could be invested at meetings of the respective Airdrie and Coatbridge local area partnerships.

Coatbridge’s next meeting takes place on March 20 at St Kevin’s Primary in Bargeddie, at 6.30pm; while the Airdrie meeting is the next night, starting at 6pm at Gartlea community centre.

Local development projects include play areas, off-street parking, heritage schemes, environmental i m p rovement s and community safety initiatives.

Council leader Jim Logue said: “The funding comes from a re-prioritisation of existing budgets and we really want our communities to play a key role in deciding how this money is spent.

“We’ve already had a lot of ideas but we need to hear from more community groups on any ideas they have; and there will also be an opportunity for people to vote on specific suggestions for projects in some areas.”

Community partnership manager Matt Costello said: “We’d like to encourage people to attend so they can highlight issues which matter to them.”

The area partnership meetings also discuss issues including roads, housing developments and health, with representatives from organisations including the NHS also attending.