Boxing club bid wins aid of rival
Cllr’s pulling no punches over it
Plans for a boxing club in Coltness have received a boost - from a man rumoured to be interested in buying the building himself.
Coltness shopkeeper, and North Lanarkshire councillor, Shahid Farooq had been rumoured to have been interested in acquiring the former Coltness Community Centre at the expense of plans to transform the old building into a club for kids and adults.
However, speaking to the Wishaw Press this week, councillor Farooq, a Coltness resident, quashed claims he was interested in purchasing the building and stated he wanted to assist Coltness Community Council and the man behind the plans, Kenny Davidson, by helping the boxing club proposals come to fruition.
He said: “One hundred per cent I will not put in any offer.
“They are using the centre for the community and I want to give them help.
“I live in Coltness and any help that I can give to the community I will do it.”
The revelation comes as members of the community council and Mr Davidson meet with the local authority on Friday to discuss the possible transferring of assets to the community.
However, the council have put the building on the market with the council willing to accept offers over £60,000 for the Coltness Road property.
The closing date for applications to buy the building is July 19.
A council spokeswoman said last week: “While the building is being advertised
One hundred per cent I will not put in any offer Cllr Farooq
for sale, the council is open to further discussions from interested parties and no final decision has been made on whether it will be sold or leased.”
The building, in Coltness Road, was deemed surplus to requirements by North Lanarkshire Council back in 2011 but the boxing club proposals have been backed by hundreds of locals who have signed a petition as well as all four Murdostoun councillors Robert McKendrick, Nicky Shevlin, Cameron McManus and Louise Roarty.