Praise for council spaces funding

Central Scotland MSP Graham Simpson has welcomed North Lanarkshire Council’s plans for its newly received Spaces for People grant of £ 566,978 for projects including the temporary relocation of existing road carriageway space for pedestrians and cyclists on the approach to Monklands Hospital and temporary road closures to facilitate vehicle-free zones at Coatbridge’s Drumpellier Country Park.

The local authority has provided details surrounding the funding, with the goal of creating safe spaces for people to “walk, cycle and wheel in and around North Lanarkshire” during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Spaces for People is a temporary infrastructure programme focused on protecting public health, supporting physical distancing and preventing a second wave of the coronavirus.

Provisions will also allow for temporary cycle parking stands across North Lanarkshire.

Mr Simpson, Scottish Conservative shadow communities secretary, said: “It’s clear the way we travel, work, spend time with each other and enjoy our urban spaces have been changed by the pandemic and it’s encouraging to see council’s making good use of government infrastructure funding.

“I welcome the council’s Spaces for People plans in envisioning how the region can have the resilience to deal with the challenges of ensuring people have safe space to physical distance and a more sustainable and less polluting way to get around.

“I’m encouraged to see so many people out cycling and walking for their daily exercise and this funding will make the great outdoors even more accessible.”