Your views on the news

Each week we will publish the best posts and tweets from our followers. To pick up all the latest news, debate and issues affecting Airdrie and Coatbridge, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The Advertiser’s Facebook readers had plenty of ideas on how best to spend the new funding being made available for community projects.

Public meetings will take place next week to allow local residents to help decide how the Airdrie and Coatbridge local area partnerships could spend the respective £1 million and £894,000 allocated to them in North Lanarkshire Council’s recent budget.

Sharon A Neil said: “Traffic wardens, so that non blue badge holders will be stopped from parking in blue badge bays; support our local shops with reduced rent; pothole improvements – give us a town to be proud of.”

Chris Hynes posted: “Get local businesses up and running in the main streets of Coatbridge and Airdrie”; and Tony Richardson added: “Put a road through the town centre like the old days and vastly reduce shop rates to bring traders back into town centre.”

Elaine McCondochie suggested: “How about giving free rent to small businesses in the Quadrant?” Margaret McGoldrick, meanwhile, said: “Get rid of the falling-down buildings first and make it a little more presentable.”

Angela McGoldrick requested new houses, while Eddie Brophy’s plea was “Fix the roads!”

There was delight on behalf of Kirkshaws Neighbourhood Centre, which has received a grant of £68,000 from the Scottish land fund – as it also prepares to take community ownership of its Haddington Way premises, with a forthcoming transfer from North Lanarkshire Council.

Roy Munson, Clair Allan and Margaretann Wilson all agreed: “Great news”, and Mould Pro posted: “I’m delighted to hear this. Would gladly help (free of charge) with refurbishment works.”

Elsewhere, readers shared their snow tales and pictures as Monklands returned to normality following a week of disruption caused by the “Beast from the East”.

Cameron Dalziel and his team of volunteers used their 4x4s to drive medics to Monklands Hospital during the snow; with Jacqueline Anne commenting: “Well done that man!” and Agnes McEwan adding: “They are brilliant.”

Caldercruix resident Stephen Francis was rescued from a lengthy trek home after good samaritans responded to a social media SOS, with David Nicol saying: “Well done mate.”