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Description
| The Northern Plateau Farmlands occupy the middle ground between the urbanised and lowland parts of North Lanarkshire and the higher moorlands that run along its eastern boundary. These farmlands include a number of claimed rights of way, though the distribution is uneven and the area between Airdrie and Cumbernauld has particularly few claimed rights of way. These areas do have farm and estate tracks through these rarely connect to provide a coherent network. |
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A number of long distance routes are protected from development, and are being developed / planned to be developed in the future as key access routes:
- The North Calder Heritage Trail crosses along the southern part of the area, from Summerlee Heritage Centre to Hillend Reservoir;
- The Monklands / Kirkintilloch Railway Path (linking Glenboig into Coatbridge);
- The Ballochney Railway Path;
- The Greengairs Railway Path;
A large opencast extraction site is located within the area at Drumshangie Moss, although this is likely to be reclaimed in the near future. Otherwise the area is characterised by farmland interspersed with small settlements including Glenboig, Glenmavis, Wattston, Greengairs, Plains, and Caldercruix.
Key Issues
Community consultation has already been undertaken at Plains, Greengairs and Wattston, Glenmavis, Chapelhall and Calderbank. The work highlighted the need for new paths across the area and changes to management. Provision of quiet routes, and paths away from traffic was particularly supported. Local people also felt that improved surfacing and removal of litter, dumping, vandalism etc. were important.
Action Area Vision
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Making more of minor roads to address current fragmentation of local networks and inter-settlement links. Further development of the opportunities offered by longer distance links. |
Priorities
The following priorities have been identified in this area:
- Communities within the area should be encouraged to work together to define their own priorities for public access. For example, local knowledge suggests that there is a need for a path network around Glenmavis, and earlier consultation within the other communities identified a similar unrealised demand for more complete networks. The access officers should work with the local communities to define how this might best be achieved.
- North Lanarkshire Council should continue to support the development of the long distance routes noted above. These routes have the potential to provide a good framework, within which more local networks can be established.
- Comprehensive access provision via off road routes is unlikely to be achievable in the short to medium term. It is therefore important making links and developing a network in the area, builds on opportunities provided by the local road network. Horse riding is already possible around back roads of Riggend Greengairs, Glenmavis, linking to routes around Palacerigg to the north. However, local people have reported that at the moment many back roads are used as dumping areas, and measures will need to be taken to ensure that such routes are safe and attractive for walkers, cyclists and riders.
'Delivering Tomorrow' the local transport strategy, views the development of healthy / green transport networks as a priority. The strategy underlines the importance of this in rural areas, where low levels of car ownership can often compound patterns of social exclusion, if viable transport alternatives are not provided. Aside from developing public transport, the strategy notes that walking and cycling could play an important role in promoting more inclusive and healthier transport networks. North Lanarkshire Council should therefore build on this policy commitment, working in partnership with relevant agencies to explore mechanisms and funding for implementing traffic calming schemes on minor roads in the area as a means of facilitating access.
- This area would benefit from the development of North – South links, parallel to the A73. This might be achieved in part through the reclamation of Drumshangie, or within areas of new development to the west of the A73.
- Through the Local Access Group, local people should be encouraged to play a more proactive role in reporting problems with local paths. Local consultation has highlighted a number of local problems with paths. Such localised and path specific problems cannot be comprehensively or regularly identified by the council. The Local Access Group could provide a forum through which local people can be encourage to proactively monitor and report path conditions requiring action.
- Local people feel that signposting of routes could be improved. Interested communities, supported by the Local Access Group, should be encouraged to develop a local signage strategy which links countryside routes into the villages. Signage should also be developed alongside further provision of information about the routes and local areas. Securing funding to implement each strategy may also be an effective way of encouraging the local community to work together, building on interest which local level consultation has already generated.
- Scope for providing further interpretation associated with the area's industrial and mining heritage should be explored. The Local Plan suggests, for example, that interpretation of the Stanrigg disaster site near Plains might provide a point of interest for visitors. The Local Access Group could work with local heritage societies to explore the scope for further development of heritage tourism, alongside the work already being undertaken on the North Calder Heritage Trail. Links from the trail (which also makes up part of the Sustrans Glasgow to Edinburgh cycle route) to local communities should also be developed further to ensure that local communities are connected with this valuable access resource.
Implementation
- Support may be available from the Heritage Lottery Fund for access associated with socio-historic interpretation. Local heritage groups should be approached with a view to exploring scope for further interpretation, which builds on and complements existing projects.
- The key landfill operator in the area (Shanks Waste Solutions, at two sites near Greengairs) may provide support via Landfill Tax. Other private sector assistance may be forthcoming if access is developed in association with plans for regeneration and new development.
- Local community groups should be encouraged to work together to develop a local level signage strategy. Funds may be available to support initiatives at this level, particularly via the Coalfield Regeneration Trust.
- Local links to longer distance routes may be supported by Sustrans.
- Scope for traffic calming schemes on minor roads should be considered in close association with North Lanarkshire Council's Transportation Department.
- The Woodland Grants Scheme Challenge Fund may support key initiatives within this area (although this would be limited by discontinuing of the fund).
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