An Airdrie resident is gaining support for his suggestion to create a public park on the current Monklands Hospital site after it relocates to Wester Moffat.
Calum Gibson has launched a petition calling for the land at Monkscourt Avenue to be transformed into a green space for people to “exercise, relax and enjoy the great outdoors” – adding that the town is the only one in North Lanarkshire not to have a similar outdoor facility.
He has been encouraged by the response to his proposal, which quickly gained more than 100 online expressions of support and has been shared on social media.
NHS Lanarkshire say the site is set to become a “health and wellbeing village” and that it will take around two years to develop the proposals following last month’s approval of the Wester Moffat move; while council officials add that they will work with the health board on the site’s future use.
Craigneuk resident Calum said: “When I heard the hospital was moving, I started to think about how that great space could be used for the area and thought about how there are just a few smaller parks in the town at the moment.
“The potential is huge and there could be a section for football parks, a children’s play area, maybe even some water – the possibilities are limitless.
“Coatbridge has Drumpellier Park and the other large towns in North Lanarkshire have something similar, but Airdrie doesn’t have a large green-space hub where people can go on a sunny day with their friends or for a walk.
“It just started out as a big idea, but it would be excellent for mental and physical health and when I talked to a few friends, they agreed and thought it was a great suggestion.”
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Calum emailed Airdrie politicians Neil Gray MP and Alex Neil MSP about his suggestion; and when he also decided to contact NHS Lanarkshire chief executive Heather Knox, decided he could also help show wider support for the plan.
His online petition states that Airdrie lacks a major park and that “the vacant space left when Monklands Hospital relocates would give a great opportunity to rectify this”, adding: “Part of North Lanarkshire’s plan is to create more green spaces for people to enjoy and this park would certainly tick that box.”
It quickly gained more support than he had first imagined, with the 25-year-old saying: “It’s been amazing; there were over 130 signatures just in the first few days and it’s been shared more than 70 times.
“The response shows it’s a popular idea and that the people of Airdrie want something like this; it would be great to be able to get even more support on the petition.
“Since the town would have a massive, state-of-the-art hospital and a large health centre just built a few years ago, so with the new hospital being built on a large piece of green belt, it would be an excellent idea to give the current site back to the community as a green space.”
One of the petition comments notes: “If lockdown has shown anything, it’s how little green space we have in Airdrie”; and PE teacher Calum added: “The pandemic has shown how important green spaces are for physical and mental health.
“I’m not sure what the health and wellbeing hub that’s being planned would involve, but a large recreational area for people to enjoy within walking distance of the town centre would be fantastic.
“Airdrie is a great town – I’m really glad the hospital is staying here as I thought would have been a disaster if it moved to Gartcosh, and I think a large park on the current site would have a lot of potential and be very popular.”
Colin Lauder, who is NHS Lanarkshire’s director of property, planning and performance, said: “We intend to create a health and wellbeing village on the current site of University Hospital Monklands after it is relocated in 2028.
“This means the local community will benefit from enhanced community-based healthcare plus the development of the new hospital, both of which will help to reduce health inequalities and provide the opportunity for economic regeneration in the area.”
He added: “This is a long-term plan and early discussions are being progressed with North Lanarkshire Council, the University of Strathclyde and other community planning partners.
“Public and staff input will be key to development of the proposals, and we expect it to be around two years before a firm plan for the site is agreed.”
A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council said: “We will work closely with NHS Lanarkshire on options for the future development of the site, including provision of community facilities.”
