North Lanarkshire Council has confirmed the closure of eight community facilities in 2025.
Rochsoles Community Centre, Westray Community Centre, Glenmavis Community Centre, Chapelhall Senior Citizens, the Ian Nicholson Centre, Waterloo Community Centre, Birkenshaw Sports Barn, and the Antonine Community Sports Hub are earmarked for closure.
The council’s mobile library service will also be closed.
Councillor Jim Logue, Leader of North Lanarkshire Council, said, “We are committed to providing a diverse range of community, culture and leisure services but it is vital that the council invests in facilities that are well-used by the community while removing those that are no longer required.
“An assessment of usage and condition has identified that a small number of facilities or services continue to be unused, have limited operation or have been repurposed for other functions.
“The handful of buildings or facilities that are no longer needed can be considered for community ownership, with interest already noted, and we will work with community groups where they express an interest in taking these facilities on.
“This can include capital grants of up to £100,000 through our groundbreaking Community Investment Fund.
“We are engaging with affected community and sport groups to accommodate them at alternative sites.
“The impressive new extension at Chryston High School, the first phase of which is due for completion in Autumn 2026, will provide exceptional facilities for the community to use, creating a community sports hub in place of the Iain Nicolson Centre.
“The Iain Nicolson Centre will remain open until the new facilities are available for use.
“A decision was taken to close the mobile library service as usage has dropped by two-thirds.
“Instead, the provision of an outreach service for the most vulnerable people, including those in sheltered housing, will be offered.
“We continue to offer a physical library service at 19 locations.
“An application is underway to transfer Jerviston Community Centre to community ownership with a group that has a strong relationship with the venue.”
At last Thursday’s full council meeting, the SNP opposition group opposed the decision to close the community facilities.
The party’s amendment also included retaining the council’s mobile library service which was popular with those who live in more isolated areas, those in sheltered housing complexes and those who make use of the home delivery service.
SNP Group leader, Councillor Tracy Carragher, said: “The appalling behaviour I witnessed from the Leader of North Lanarkshire Council at the meeting of the full council on December 19, in my opinion, is not befitting of the trust placed in him.
“Not only did he break his promise to maintain and keep open the 39 Active and Creative Community leisure facilities and mobile library service, he chose his time allocated to speak, not to explain why, but to deflect by attacking the SNP Government and the language I heard from him when another member was speaking was simply disgraceful.
“The public rightly have a high expectation of councillors and the way in which they should conduct themselves in undertaking their duties.
“The North Lanarkshire Labour group should reflect on the damage their Leader is doing to their collective reputation and take the necessary action to replace him.”
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