Plans in place to get better

The former Springhill senior citizens centre site is to be transferred to Shotts group Getting Better Together (GBT).

Now the organisation plans to apply for lottery funding to buy and develop the area, along with a portion of additional surrounding land which is still to be determined exactly.

GBT has been leasing the building and carrying out consultation on services and facilities which local residents would like to see there and has now had a provisional purchase price of £30,000 approved by Nor th Lanarkshire councillors.

Members of the authority’s infrastructure committee this week agreed to the community asset transfer of the building and grounds, which were declared surplus to council requirements September.

They were told a survey had “concluded that the present building is at the end of its economic life” and “the current intention [is] that the building will be demolished as part of any future redevelopment proposals”.

June Vallance, from GBT, said: “It’s very important as it was the residents who fought to keep the hall open and brought ourselves on board.

“We have engaged with the community, worked very hard and we have managed to increase the number of people who are using the hall which is important.

“We have also received funding to organise activities for young people at night.

“We have to have the hall cater for all the age groups.” in