Political decision over Gartcosh site

Dear Editor, Having watched, with ongoing dismay, the hysteria being caused by the location choice for the new Monklands Hospital, I feel compelled to have my say.

I am a long-term resident of Gartcosh and from the beginning of this process have felt that, ultimately, the decision would be political.

The various MSPs, MPs and local politicians all have a vested interest in keeping the voters of Airdrie and Coatbridge happy. I do get that; numbers count.

Anyway, Gartcosh – what is it? According to Alex Neil and company, it is an inaccessible, contaminated backwater, prone to flooding and parking problems and so far out at the edge of North Lanarkshire it is hardly worth a thought.

If that is true, then why is North Lanarkshire happy to showcase Gartcosh as a growing rural community with great transport links and (up to and including the present and future) hand out planning permission for housing development like sweeties?

The Scottish crime campus is built on – allegedly contaminated – land adjacent to the proposed hospital development site.

Did the authorities allow this while believing that the land was contaminated?

Over 30 years ago, they were closing Gartcosh steelworks. Many generations of workers from Airdrie and Coatbridge were employed there.

Many people from Gartcosh have worked in “The Monklands” too. I wonder how they got there?

At the time of the Gartcosh works closure, members of the SNP and Labour were standing shoulder to shoulder, stating “no job losses” at Gartcosh.

Now they are saying “keep jobs away from Gartcosh”.

No jobs have been created for locals on that site in the intervening years. The crime campus has obviously brought in specialist workers.

So in my eyes, both parties have failed. I hope that the growing number of voters in Gartcosh and the surrounding area remember that at the next election (s).

I quote from Neil Gray MP: “I hope it won’t be long before Gartcosh as an option is off the table” [Advertiser, November 21].

Well, I figure that after the “totally independent” review commissioned by the Scottish Government, that Gartcosh will find itself again swept from the table.

I hope that during their “review” they take into consideration the recent Scottish Government recommendation that brownfield sites should be used in preference to greenfield sites when developments are being planned.

Name and email address supplied