Hope for local groups

A Wishawhill councillor is hopeful groups who currently use the area’s community centre can be relocated due to the opening of a new nursery.

Last week, Wishawhill Community Centre was identified as part of the council’s 1140 hours expansion programme for childcare after previous plans for a new facility at Heathery Park were deemed unviable due to risk of flood.

Consultation with current users of the centre will begin in the coming months.

SNP member Agnes Magowan is pleased the nursery will soon be opening but wants to see that the groups which currently use the centre are accomodated at facilities nearby.

She said:“I’m delighted that Wishawhill Community Centre and indeed the Craigneuk Family Learning Centre are going to be repurposed for 1140 hours provision.

“At a meeting with Gerard McLaughlin (Education Officer) Councillor Alan Valentine and myself we expressed concerns regarding the groups who use the facilities at present.

“There is a busy Credit Union, bingo, carpet bowls and an art class.

“We were assured by the council officer that these groups would be fully consulted and suitable accommodation would be provided either in the community centre or nearby as most of the participants are local and walk to the community centre.

“I am looking forward to high quality nursery education being provided in these facilities.”

The centre will be adapted and upgraded for its new use, with a detailed proposal coming before councillors at a future meeting of North Lanarkshire Council’s Education and Families Committee.

The Heathery Park site had been removed from the council’s 1140 hours infrastructure programme.

It was determined that none of the options presented for managing the continuous water discharge were suitable.