Proposals to refurbish the Wishawhill community centre into a new nursery complex are continuing to progress at North Lanarkshire Council.
A design brief is currently being prepared both for the community centre and the Craigneuk family learning centre, where existing nursery capacity will be enhanced as part of the overall proposals.
The design briefs are expected to be complete by the middle of next month.
Consultation with current users of the centre has already taken place, with four of the five groups identifying an appropriate alternative location for their activities.
It is expected that the necessary planning approvals will be in place by the end of August.
Motherwell South East and Ravenscraig councillor, Nathan Wilson, said: “I was delighted to recently meet virtually with senior education officers and to discuss where matters currently stand with taking forward the exciting proposals for a new nursery.
“I previously said that all efforts must be made to ensure that those who do currently use the community centre can continue with their regular activities even if this has to be elsewhere and I am pleased to be informed that a solution has been identified for the vast majority of groups.
“One remaining concern is that a target completion date has still not been set for when the new nursery will be ready.
“In the report prepared for the most recent education committee meeting in February, the proposed early years centre in Wishawhill was the only of the new build 1140 projects listed in the paper that is either not already complete or does not have an expected date for when it might be ready.
“Whilst important progress has been made, Wishawhill remains behind all of the other 1140 nursery developments and a target completion date should be set for when the new early years centre is likely to materialise.
“An excellent nursery education is vital for the future prospects of our children and it is imperative that the impressive proposals for a new nursery in Wishawhill can become a reality at the earliest possible opportunity.”
As part of the 1140 hours nursery expansion, a new early years centre was initially meant to be constructed at Heathery Park but the plans had to be dropped because of significant water drainage problems on the land.
