LATEST NEWS

Our next committee meeting will be held in Rochsolloch School on Monday 6th February 2012 at 6.30 pm when we will be discussing present and future projects. If you are interested in developing these Parks you are very welcome to attend.

Here are some of the improvements completed and ongoing in the two Parks.

People's Millions funded illumination of the Victorian Viaduct in Centenary Park. The switching on the lights took place at 7.00pm 12th November 2009 (click on Gallery at home page). The design projected on the Viaduct was created by Keiran Wilson an 11 year old who won the first competition and Chelsea Reid who won the second design both from Victoria school. After the Friends Chairman gave a warm welcome to approx 90 people followed by Councillor Jim Logue who praised the efforts of the Friends group and said a further £10,000 was being allocated for more designs to be made he invited them together to press the button that switched on the lights. This was a very successful event and admired by the public.

The first design theme of Keiran's was St Andrews and the second theme of Chelsea is birds. The selection of the designs submitted by all the primary scools in Airdrie and Coatbridge is ongoing and the winners designs will be on the Viaduct in due course. Click on GALLERY to see the other designs which have been added to date.

St Andrews schoolchildren recently planted 1000 bluebell bulbs, donated by the Friends Group, in the tree area above the Cenotaph.

In the spring of 2010 they have created a bluebell woods. They will be in full bloom in the spring of 2011.

An entrance feature in Centenary Park, from the Coatbridge direction. The stone is being donated by Reigart Ltd and the stone dressing and erection work is being donated by MPC. This will be erected in the near future.

WREN and NLC funded the creation of a Four Seasons Garden in West End Park, with an entrance feature from the main street and resurfacing the pathways with tarmacadam and 3 new seats.This area is used for wedding photo's, and was completed 8 July '10. The flower beds are now planted.

A funding application submitted to BIFFA to create a Sensory garden in Centenary Park has been successful and we have been awarded £50,000 for phase 2 of this project. Phase 1 costing £40,000 had already been secured from NLC Environmental Key fund. Meetings with NLC Planning and Landscape people are ongoing in Centenary Park and elsewhere. Contractors have been appointed. The completion took place with the official opening on the 30th March at 10.30am by the Provost Tom Curley. This event was a considerable success. Photos and the story were in The Airdrie Advertiser on 20th April and will be added to our gallery in due course.

NLC have now completed the upgrading of the Cenotaph and surrounding area, the Friends group have requested plighting the tree canopy from the path area as part of our planned Winter Light Trail which will end at the Victorian Viaduct.

NLC have now laid a new tarmacadam pathway from the Viaduct running parallel with Centenary Avenue this completes the pathway route for the Winter Light Trail. To complete this Trail we have now obtained funds to light up the back path.

On the 9th November 2010 at 7.15 pm The Victorian Viaduct in Centenary Garden was lit up with poppy's and Lest We Forget theme projected on to the Viaduct there was an official switch on by Councilor Jim Logue other councilors, committee members, representatives from NLC and SASRA and others attended. The Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser gave good coverage this event.

On Thursday 13 October 2011 The Friends group were awarded 'Lanarkshire Environmental Group of the Year' by New Lanarkshire Ltd Supercounty 2011 Lanarkshire Unsung Heroes. Alex Forrest(Treasurer) accepted an inscribed glass plaque. All our plaques and certificates will be on display at the Airdrie Library.

Keep Scotland Beautiful awarded the Friends group the top award of Outstanding in the Beautiful Scotland Neighborhood category which recognizes the achievements of community groups.  On 1st November 2011 in Stirling Albet Hall the award was accepted by Ian McIndoe (Vice Chairman) and Margaret Wallace committee member.