Calling the Shotts at the ballot box
Shotts was the big winner in a pilot scheme to decide how best North Lanarkshire Council could spend money on leisure projects.
The Wishaw and Shotts Participatory
Budgeting project identified areas for possible awards from £350,000 which was up for grabs.
They went to a public vote leaving it up to residents in towns and villages to decide where the funding would be spent.
Shotts’ Fortissat ward came out tops and is set to benefit from several new projects in the town.
Shotts Community Council helped by getting the word out to people in the town that their votes could make a difference.
Chairperson Johnjo Leckie was delighted for the town’s residents.
He said: “The people got behind us and voted big style. It’s fantastic for the community getting these awards.
“We got leaflets out and went into the schools and community groups. If you put things across in the right way people will come out and vote. And that definitely worked for us in Shotts.”
Over 40,000 votes were cast by more than 10,000 people across the Shotts, Wishaw and Motherwell areas.
Among the Shotts projects to win funding are: a new play area at Rosehall Road; a multi use games arena (MUGA) on Graystonelee Road; and a multi use area for bikes and skaters near Springhill community hall.
A steering group will meet soon to evaluate the process and help progress the funded projects to the design and delivery phase.
Catherine Carson, community development worker at Getting Better Together in Shotts, said: “It’s been a great effort, and a real team effort.
“Community members have been talking to their neighbours. Events were held in the Co-op and boxes were put in the pubs and local shops.
“We are absolutely delighted and hopefully it opens up people’s minds and when they see things happening in Shotts it will bring out a lot more people the next time.”
Fortissat ward councillor Clare Quigley also welcomed the result for the town, saying: “The people came out an voted. Everybody knew about it so we had an advantage in that sense. “We are absolutely delighted. “The projects that have been identified and approved will now need to be costed so we don’t know the exact numbers yet. We’re hoping things will move pretty quickly.”