LATEST NEWS
Bus service is extendedSep 17 2008
STRATHCLYDE Partnership for Transport (SPT) will extend a bus route in Chapelhall.
At the request of local residents and councillors, the Chapelhall to Carnbroe service will soon see improvements to meet the demands of changing populations in the area.
The number 16 will be extended to serve Lancaster Avenue from November 23.
Most journeys will then serve Monklands Hospital at adjacent bus stops on Deedes Street, with one morning journey from Gartness operating via the hospital grounds.
The route between Carnbroe and Airdrie Town centre will be on a more direct routing via Deedes Street, Alexander Street and Stirling Street.
Timetable details for all services in Monklands and the surrounding areas are available by telephoning Traveline on 0871 200 22 33.
Teenager attacked and spat at nurses
Sep 17 2008
A CHAPELHALL teenager who spat at and attacked accident and emergency nurses as they tried to help her has been tagged and told to seek alcohol counselling.
Danielle Lafferty (18) had drank a bottle of vodka and went to Monklands A&E department because her friend was so worried about how much she’d drank.
But whilst one of the three nurses were attending to her, Lafferty, of Gibb Street, lashed out. Read more on this story
Chapelhall firm wins safety contract
Sep 17 2008
CHAPELHALL-based Scotshield has secured a new £3.5 million contract to provide essential fire and security systems in more than 200 Scottish schools.
The local company has signed a deal with contractors who maintain schools in North Lanarkshire and another 12 Scottish local authorities, including Glasgow, Edinburgh and South Lanarkshire.
Scotshield will provide all maintenance and monitoring for CCTV, fire and intruder alarms, access control, disabled toilet alarms, PA systems and induction loops for the next five years. The company, which will mark its 20th anniversary next year and which has its HQ at Chapelhall industrial estate, has boosted its annual turnover to £12 million thanks to the new contract.
Managing director Tony Kane said: “This has been a terrifically successful year which has exceeded our most optimistic expectations.”
Scotshield have also recently earned a contract to provide fire detection and emergency lighting systems for North Lanarkshire Council.
Pub of cheers at Swan Inn
Sep 17 2008
THE Swan Inn pub, in Chapelhall, has helped raise an astonishing £3400 for charity after holding a special charity night.
Many local businesses contributed to the fantastic final figure, including Select Blinds, Ravenscraig Security, Little Italy and Munchies.
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Aimee’s leap of faith for charity
A MONKLANDS girl has taken part in a sponsored skydive to raise money for Cancer Research UK, in memory of her late aunt.
Aimee Garrett (20), from Chapelhall, Airdrie, jumped from 3500 feet at the location in Strathallan and managed to raise a fantastic £430.
Aimee received the skydiving ticket as a Christmas present from her mum and decided to raise cash for a worthwhile cause.
She said: “I chose Cancer Research UK as my aunt Kay lost her battle with cancer a few years ago. My family has raised a fair bit of money for cancer charities in the past and I thought this skydive was a great chance to raise some more funds.”
Aimee was sponsored by eager family and friends, and her employers Eurocentral, but received a welcome donation from an unexpected source. She said: “I actually got sponsored by some inmates from a prison and would just like to give their kindness a mention.” The jump itself was a memorable occasion for Aimee. She said: “It was quite terrifying but very exhilarating. However, I actually landed in the wrong field, so that was a bit crazy.” Aimee handed in her donation to the Cancer Research UK’s store in Bank Street, Airdrie. The shop’s manager, Ann Hilson, said: “This is a fantastic gesture by Aimee and we are so grateful. It can’t have been an easy thing to do but we are delighted that she chose to use her skydive to raise money for our charity.”
Boozed-up great-granny delayed flight 15th August 2008
A HOLIDAY flight from Edinburgh to
Alicante was delayed just prior to departure because of a drunken passenger – a
68-year old great-grandmother.
Elizabeth Lees of Nisbet Street,
Chapelhall, was drunk and had to be removed from the plane.
At Edinburgh
Sheriff Court yesterday, Lees was fined £250 after pleading guilty to being
drunk on board the Boeing 737 on March 13 this year.
Lees, who has seven
grown-up children and 22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, had arrived
early at the airport for her two-week holiday and had been drinking, the court
was told.
The plane's doors had been closed in preparation for take-off,
but there was some problem with seating arrangements.
A senior member of
the cabin crew realised that Lees was under the influence of alcohol and when
the captain spoke to her, he saw she was unsteady on her feet and her eyes were
red and bloodshot.
As Lees was leaving the plane, she banged into the
doorway.
Being drunk on an aircraft is an offence.
Biker still ‘serious’ after road accident
(8th August 2008)A BIKER was seriously injured in a road accident near Larkhall on Monday.
Alan Mullen was riding a Kawasaki motorbike southwards along the A71 Ayr Road around 9.30am when it appeared that it went out of control and collided with a lorry.
The incident occurred at the junction with Swinhill Road where the lorry driver, travelling north, tried to make a right turn into Swinhill Road.
Mr Mullen, of Lammermuir Way, Chapelhall, was taken to Wishaw General Hospital.
It is understood the 39-year-old was suffering from injuries to his leg and pelvis.
The 23-year-old driver of the Polish-registered lorry was uninjured.
A hospital spokesman this week described Mr Mullen’s condition as serious but stable.
Constable David Bulloch of Motherwell Road Policing Department urged witnesses to the accident to get in touch with him.
What a Mess (6th August 2008)
THE travellers who set up an illegal camp on the outskirts of Chapelhall 2 weeks ago have now departed – but have left the site littered in their wake.
Gas cylinders, boxes and bags of household rubbish and even a discarded baby’s buggy were left strewn across the site.
Now land owners Organon, the pharmaceutical company based in nearby Chapelhall, are facing the task of clearing up the “significant mess” left behind, with assistance from North Lanarkshire Council.
The travellers stayed for 2 weeks in the field just north of Woodhall Mill Road before leaving last Sunday – two days after Organon’s parent corporation, Schering-Plough, had begun legal action to evict them from their site.
A spokeswoman for the company said: “Organon served a writ to the travellers illegally camped on the land adjacent to our site last Friday, August 1.
“Subsequently they have vacated the site without the necessity for further legal action.
“The site has been left in a significant mess and we are actively pursuing the clear-up of the land in conjunction with the local council.
“We aim to ensure that it is speedily returned to its prior condition.”
Police were called to the travellers’ campsite at 10.45pm on Saturday night when a brick was thrown at the camp, allegedly by a group of local youths.
No injury or damage was caused, but officers provided extra supervision until the group chose to leave the site the following day.
At one stage, more than 30 caravans were parked on the land, which is near the A8 roadway between Chapelhall and Calderbank.
The group chose to use this site even though a designated council-run facility for travellers lay empty just three miles away at Forrest Street, in Airdrie.
The council have confirmed that they are working with Schering-Plough to clear up the litter-strewn site; and the entrance has now been blocked by bollards and a locked gate.
DOZENS of gypsies have pitched their caravans on an illegal site on the outskirts of Chapelhall – despite a designated area for the travelling community lying empty just three miles away.
(30th July 2008)
Council bosses have forked out a fortune in the past to create and maintain the site for travellers off Forrest Street between Airdrie and Plains.
Some estimates say the total cost since it was opened little more than 10 years ago could be as high as £1 million.
But now it seems like a huge waste of cash after gypsy travellers set up on private land between Calderbank and Chapelhall, just north of Woodhall Mill Road, near the A8.
North Lanarkshire Council want the travellers to move but told the Advertiser that their hands are tied because they don’t own the site.
And the presence of the travellers seems to have caused some tension locally with reports of youths stoning the caravans.
Chris McAteer, Supported Accommodation Manager, said: “North Lanarkshire Council is aware of caravans located on a piece of private land between Calderbank and Chapelhall. An officer from the council has been out to speak to the people at the site and advised them to move on.
“This is private land and the council has no legal powers to move on the travellers. Contact has been made with Strathclyde Police and the land manager in relation to this matter. Legal action is being taken by the land manager.”
The caravans began moving into the site – believed to be owned by Chapelhall-based pharmaceutical firm Organon – at the early part of last week.
By Friday there were around 15 caravans but that number had more than doubled by the start of this week.
Local youths stoned some caravans in what police said was a minor incident but was also believed to have forced some of the travellers to leave.
The designated site on the edge of Clarkston is locked up and has not been used in the last year.
But North Lanarkshire Council are still legally obliged to accommodate the travelling community, so the site, which has 16 pitches, must be maintained.
Mr McAteer said: “In line with legislation, all councils in Scotland must consider the accommodation needs of gypsy travellers in their Local Housing Strategy.
"In North Lanarkshire provision is made for travellers at a site in Forrest Street, Airdrie. In the event of travellers coming to the area we would make the site available to them.”
'Family fight to stop road that would go through their farm'
(1st July 2008)
THEY have fought the road builders since
moving into their farmhouse 41 years ago and are preparing to do battle
again.
William and Christina Barrie are taking what could be a last stand against completion of the Edinburgh-Glasgow motorway link, which threatens to flatten their home.
'St Aloysius Church gets extra car parking space.'
(17th June 2008)
The Chapelhall Eye is led to believe that St Aloysius Church has bought some of the land where the old St. Aloysius school was to make extra car parking space.
The land had been lying empty for a few months now after St. Aloysius school was demolished when St Aloysius and Chapelhall Primary moved to the campus.
Work will start soon to convert the land into a Car Park.
'My fiance died in my arms after Bank Holiday weekend horror smash'
(27th May 2008)
A SOBBING young bride-to-be told last night how her fiance died in her arms after a horror car crash.
Stacey Mchutcheson, 22, dragged 25-year-old Chris Caldwell from the wreck and begged him to wake up but he never regained consciousness.
The couple were due to marry next year. Stacey wept: "We were looking forward to planning a wedding and spending our life together.
"I don't know how I've been able to walk away from the crash. I wish we could have shared the injuries and both be alive."
Stacey added: "Chris was everything to me. He was a great guy. He was kind and a great person to be with.
"I just can't believe he's gone."
Chris and Stacey were almost home after a day out when their car went out of control at a roundabout and flipped on to its roof.
Stacey, who was in the passenger seat, escaped with minor injuries. She said: "I remember the smash and the car spinning around and when we stopped the car was upside down.
"I managed to crawl out and ran to Chris at the driver's side window. I was crying and trying to get his seatbelt off to get him out.
"Some people had stopped and they dragged me away because steam was coming from the car and they thought it was going to explode.
"But I managed to break free. I ran back to the car and got Chris's seatbelt off and dragged him out through the window.
"I was screaming, 'Wake up! Wake up!' but he was unconscious. He died in my arms.
"After that the emergency services arrived and took us to hospital."
The horror happened in the early hours of Sunday as Chris and Stacey, who had been engaged for a year, drove home to Chapelhall, Lanarkshire, after a trip to Glasgow.
Chris had watched his beloved Rangers win the Scottish Cup while Stacey had lunch with friends, and the couple met up later to try their luck at the casino.
Bank manager Stacey recalled: "Chris kept saying we were going to win 10 grand but we lost a fortune in the end."
The young lovers were moments away from arriving at their new detached house when Chris, who was driving Stacey's Vauxhall Astra convertible, lost control in Woodhall Street, Chapelhall.
A report on the crash will be sent to the procurator fiscal.
Chris, a university graduate, had recently started a car repair company.
His mum Linda, of Castlemilk, Glasgow, said: "He was my one and only son.
"I had him when I was 19 and he was like my best friend as well as my boy.
"No mum could wish for more from a son. He was perfect."
Linda added: "Chris was never in trouble in his whole life and he'd do anything for anyone.
"He went to Glasgow University when he was just 16. He had started his own business and he was looking forward to getting married.
"He had so much to look forward to but just like that, he's gone.
"My whole life has been taken from me. It's the most tragic thing that can happen to anyone."
Driver dies after car overturns (26th May 2008)
A 25-year-old man has died and a woman, 22, has been injured in a crash in North Lanarkshire.
Christopher Caldwell, from Chapelhall, sustained serious head injuries when his car overturned on Woodhall Street in the town.
Mr Caldwell was taken to Monklands General Hospital but died shortly afterwards. His passenger was treated for minor injuries.
The accident happened at about 0140 BST on Sunday
Police Probe alleged abuse at nursery
A POLICE investigation has been launched into the alleged sexual abuse of a four-year-old girl by a schoolboy.
The child, who attends Honeywell Nursery in Chapelhall, is believed to have been touched on her private parts by a pupil from nearby St Aloysius Primary School. A medical examination confirmed that the child had been interfered with. More....
Otters living along the North Calder Water could benefit from a new environmental project by Scottish Water.
A storm pipe, designed to cope with extreme weather conditions, is due to be constructed in the Chapelhall area. The £700,000 project to construct the 430-metre pipe in North Lanarkshire will begin at the end of March.
Showhomes revealed across the region
George Wimpey West Scotland has revealed two stunning
four bedroom detached showhomes at its Poplar Grove development in Chapelhall, plus a further
two new showhomes have also just opened at The Pines in Blackwood.
Poplar
Grove, on Lancaster Avenue, Chapelhall, offers an
exciting mix of 74 modern family homes from the practical Island and luxurious
Woodlands range of homes. This development offers an exciting new place to call
home in a countryside setting within a short commute of Airdrie, Glasgow or
Edinburgh. Prices currently start from £190,000 for a four bedroom detached
home, and £140,000 for a three bedroom semi detached.
Man admits to shooting during gun handover (21st January 2008)
AN illegal immigrant shot a man in the neck after a gun handover went wrong, a court heard today.
Victim Sohaib Qureshi tried to drive to hospital after he was wounded but crashed into a parked vehicle.
The 37-year-old was treated at Glasgow's Victoria Infirmary where he was found to have a bullet lodged at the back of his neck.
The High Court in Edinburgh was told the Russian-made pistol, which had a silencer, used in the shooting may have suffered a "mechanical failure", preventing it from firing numerous bullets in quick succession.
Albanian national Selim Manjani, 26, admitted he assaulted Mr Qureshi to his severe injury and to the danger of his life on April 9 last year in Calder Street, Glasgow.
Manjani, who had lived at McPherson Crescent, Chapelhall, in Lanarkshire, was originally charged with attempted murder, but the Crown accepted his guilty plea to a reduced offence.
Man critical after head-on police smash (2nd January 2008)
A MAN is fighting for his life in hospital today after a head-on smash involving a police car on one of Scotland's busiest roads.
Two officers had to be cut free from the wreckage of their vehicle after they tried to stop a car travelling the wrong way down the A8.
The horror collision happened minutes after a Citroen was spotted travelling the wrong way down the eastbound carriageway, near junction six.
Paramedics gave emergency treatment to the 58-year-old male driver of the Citroen before he was rushed to hospital, where he is in a critical condition.
A 30-year-old police officer, who was driving the patrol car, suffered serious injuries to his legs and pelvis, while a second officer, aged 44, was treated for a shoulder injury and cuts and bruises.
It's thought both officers were trapped in the wreckage for more than an hour.
The accident happened around 10.05 last night outside the Honeywell factory at Newhouse Industrial Estate, near where the A8 merges with the M8.
The eastbound carriageway, between Shawhead and Chapelhall at Eurocentral, was closed until 11am today, with diversions in place, as accident investigators inspected the site.