Councillors’ outrage at investments claim
Politicians say NLC have cut services to Shotts
Two Shotts councillors have hit back at Provost Jim Robertson’s comments that the council have invested heavily in the town.
It comes after the Wishaw Pres reported a fortnight ago that Shotts MSP Alex Neil said not enough had been made of Shotts’ new status as a town.
The Nationalist MSP was speaking exactly one year after the Wishaw Press began its sucessful campaign for town status for Shotts.
Provost Robertson insisted the council had invested at least £ 50m in Shotts, including a new £20m Calderhead High School, £ 8.8mn in housing stock, £ 4m Stan Gardens project £13m in new kitchen programme and a £3.9m project to build new homes in Bon Accord Crescent
But councillors Tommy Cochrane and Charlie Cefferty said the council haven’t done enough to invest in the town since it was given town status and said the opposite has happened and that more services have been cut.
SNP councillor Tommy Cochrane said: “When Alex Neil and myself and councillor Cefferty talk about investment, we are looking for Town Centre regeneration and the involvement of Fusion assets (the council’s property and regeneration company) which has been absent from our ward since its establishment.
“The motto of this company according to its web site is “The property development and regeneration company tasked with breathing new life into North Lanarkshire.
“This doesn’t seem to be the case to any communities east of the A73.
“In recent years North Lanarkshire has cut services to our town.
“Register office, social work offices, refuge depot and Land Services all removed for the town and lately the closure of the Springhill and Harthill Senior Citizens Centers.
“That brings me nicely to Harthill, another forgotten part of North Lanarkshire.
“I was commenting to Cllr Cefferty the other day that it is looking like a ghost town.
“No positive regeneration plans for this village either.
I will continue to fight for Shotts, Allanton, Salsburgh and Harthill areas, we deserve a better deal than what we have been given.
Independent councillor Charlie Cefferty said it is time the council stepped up their commitment to assist and take the lead role in creating a vibrant town worthy of the people of Shotts.
“Not only that but increase the investment that is deserved within the Fortissat ward including Harthill, Allanton, Salsburgh and Shotts.
“Now we require a dedicated approach with provision of a fully resourced town centre management team that will create a new vision for the town as has been promised by the council,” he added.
“Stimulate business growth and prosperity for the people of Shotts and surrounding areas.
“Active engagement with the communities of Shotts, all elected members and the business community is essential to ensure that a modern town centre is provided.
“The time for action is here and now, not the lip service that has been experienced thus far. The people within the Fortissat Ward deserve better.”