Million pound boost to create music and learning hub
Ex-plumber officer retrieved the bag
A music project for young people in Motherwell has received £1.17 million from the Scottish Government to create a community music and learning hub.
North Lanarkshire Council and Reeltime Music successfully bid for a grant of £1,171.270 from Regeneration Capital Grant Fund to transform a long-term vacant industrial unit into the community facility.
The hub will provide training, rehearsal, small event and recording studio facilities, and offer services to the wider community, particularly disadvantaged young people.
It will be delivered in partnership with community planning partners and other third sector organisations and operate as a social enterprise by Reeltime Music.
“The grant is excellent news for Motherwell, as it allows us to create first class facilities for young people to learn new skills, develop interests and enjoy making music,”said David Greer, growth programme manager.
“Reeltime Music run a range of workshops and activities which are very popular locally, linking to the Curriculum for Excellence delivered in schools, so the new music and learning hub will offer more opportunities for young people.”
Ryan Currie, manager at Reeltime Music, said:“this is a milestone that has been over 20 years in the making, made possible by the hard work of our staff, trustees and the goodwill of countless partners and supporters.
“Life is challenging for everyone right now, and through our work, we know that it’s particularly difficult for young people.
“This new first of its kind creative centre is an investment in young people’s futures and their creative potential. Young people and residents across North Lanarkshire have told us of the need for a facility such as this for many years now, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to make it happen.
“We’re keen to hear from anyone interested in getting on board to help take this vision forward.”
Work is expected to start on the project in April, with the new hub open by the end of the year.
This year the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund has awarded £24.1 million to 26 new projects in disadvantaged and remote communities around Scotland to support regeneration and employment projects. It is delivered annually in partnership between the Scottish Government and COSLA.
A man flushed cocaine said to be worth £2000 down the toilet when police arrived at his Hamilton home with a drugs search warrant.
Daniel Daly was charged with dealing the Class A drug, but he claimed it was all for his own use and was found guilty only of possession.
Daly, 35, admitted obstructing the police search in Back o’ Barns, in August 2019.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard the cocaine was recovered after an officer used his skills as a former plumber to retrieve it from the drainage system.
Eight officers turned up at Daly’s home at 7am.
A male inside shouted he was going to the toilet and the lavatory was then flushed.
Daly eventually opened the door and the officers went into the bathroom.
They found a tupperware dish and a polythene bag with kitchen roll.
Suspicions were raised and one of the officers – a former plumber – lifted the manhole cover in the common stairwell.
The toilet was flushed again and a knotted bag containing white powder appeared in the manhole.
This was dried and found to be about 60g of cocaine.
Daly told the police he had bought it for £1000 and it was all for his own use.
His lawyer, Eddie Robertson, called drugs expert Kenneth Lee as a defence witness.
Mr Lee said he would have expected such a quantity of cocaine to cost double what Daly claimed, but he might have got a good price because of his relationship with his dealer.
The expert told Mr Robertson it was “plausible” that the cocaine was all for personal use.
The fact that no drug dealing equipment was found supported Daly’s claim.
Daly was accused of possessing cocaine with intent to supply others, but was found guilty of the lesser charge of possession.
Sentence was deferred until next month.