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NORTH COUNCIL

REPORT

To: COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE Subject: NORTH CALDER HERITAGE TRAIL : UPDATE

From: DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICES

Date: Ref 3 August, 1999 BRTKPT

1.0 INTRODUCTION

This report is to update Members on progress in developing the North Calder Heritage Trail (NCHT), and following on from the Leisure Services Committee report of November 1996 the Council’s ongoing commitment to the Project is sought. 0

2.0 BACKGROUND

2.1 The NCHT is a partnership project involving Council, Scottish Natural Heritage, Lanarkshire Development Agency and Central Scotland Countryside Trust.

2.2 The objectives of the NCHT are as follows: To create a path system which will improve access, recreation and health opportunities for people in North Lanarkshire. To provide training and employment opportunities. To improve the emironment along the Trail route. To generate education resources which will make the NCHT an attractive tool for learning. To interpret the natural and industrial heritage along the Trail route for local people and visitors. To involve local people in the projects and activities of the NCHT. To bring economic development through tourism.

2.3 The development of the NCHT has been guided by a feasibility and design study conducted by . the Ash Consultancy Group in 1992. Subsequently the Project is directed by a Steering Group made up from representatives of the partnership organisations. Representatives from other organisations such as British Waterways and Calderbank Conservation Society attend meetings on appropriate occasions.

2.4 The objectives of the NCHT are met through: Capital Works, particularly for the establishment of NCHT pathways and environmental improvements. The activities of the North Calder Heritage Trail Officer in organising events, resources and promotions. The development of nodes along the NCHT. Nodes are points which attract more visits from local people and visitors through provision of extra recreational facilities andor interpretation. 183

2.5 The North Calder Heritage Trail is 16hlong. It follows the route of the and from Summerlee Heritage Park in to Hillend Reservoir, east of Airdrie (see map). The Forth and Clyde Cycle Route shares part of the route of the Trail.

2.6 Footpath counters have been placed on the Trail since August 1998. Each counter has recorded between 500-600 counts a month between November and March, and between 700- 2,000 counts a month between April and October. Most visitors are local although the number of enquiries about the NCHT from other parts of North Lanarkshire and the Central Belt is growing.

3.0 THE INITIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE NORTH CALDER HERITAGE TRAIL

3.1 The development of the NCHT between 1992 and 1998 concentrated on path creation, path upgradq and environmental improvements. New paths were built and existing paths upgraded between Calderbank and Clarkston in Airdrie. These improvements were funded by the partners, an ERDF grant and Wisestart Ltd (a training organisation).

3.2 The development of the Central Scotland Forest; in particular the Airdrie Woodlands Initiative by Central Scotland Countryside Trust, improved the environment and added new paths llnlang to the route of the Trail.

3.3 Together with Paths for All, the NCHT partnership commissioned six public consultations about access in the Airdrie Woodlands area. This greatly added to the planning process of how the NCHT could link up with other paths to create local path networks.

3.4 Part of the Trail route was established through overlap with the Forth and Clyde Cycle Route developed by Sustrans.

3.5 The concept of nodes proposed by the Ash Consultancy Report has been progressed with the continuing development of Plains Countq Park, and Countryside and Nature Park.

0 4.0 NORTH CALDER HERITAGE TRAIL OFFICER 4.1 In June 1998 a Trail Development Officer was appointed to advance the objectives of the Trail. Scottish Natural Heritage and Central Scotland Countryside Trust entirely fund the post with North Lanarkshire Council providq administrative support. The officer, Alastair Ewen, is an employee of NLC based in the Conservation and Greening Unit, Community Services Department. The officer has completed one year of his post. A further year remains with the possibility of a third year depending on fundmg.

4.2 The Trail Officer reports to the NCHT Steering Group verbally and with regular written reports.

4.3 The NCHT Officer’s duties include: Monitoring - The condition of the pathways are monitored and maintenance issues, when they arise, are reported to the respective landowner. Research - Footpath counters record the number of people using the Trail. More counters are to be installed and a visitor survey started. 0 Signage - The 111 length of the Trail is identified with unique iron waymarhg posts and is signed off the A89 by a Tourist Board road sign at Hillend Reservoir. Further

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road signs, directing pedestrians and motorists to access points and car parks are to follow. 0 Promotion - The NCHT is well promoted through presentations, events, press articles and posters. A Trail leaflet will be available in September 1999. Events - These include open days, heritage walks, litter drives, tree planting and exhibiting at Greenscene. 0 Interpretation - The natural and industrial heritage of the Trail is interpreted through events and Trail literature.

5.0 CAPITAL PROJECTS

5.1 Coatbank Street - Lock Street Greening Proiect

The NCHT partners lead this project. A &12,000 grant fiom the Planning and Environment Department of North Lanarkshire Council will go towards environmental improvements along this corridor of land. Additional funding will be sought fiom Scottish Natural Heritage. 0 5.2 Monkland Glen Footbridge Proiect

The NCHT partners lead this project. An &84,000 footbridge mill be installed over North Calder Water underneath Monkland Road Bridge to create a safe way to bypass the A73.

5.3 Monkland Canal Project - Phase 1. This project is led by British Waterways and Calderbank Conservation Society to improve towpaths and dredge the Canal.

5.4 Economic Development Unit Projects. These include Coatbridge Fountain, Calderbank, Brownsbum, and Cadercruix.

6.0 NODAL DEVELOPMENT

6.1 Caldercruix Countrvside & Nature Park

The Trail Officer has developed an interpretation plan for this Community Park; commissioned engraved stones as Park signage and produced a leaflet for the Park.

6.2 Hillend Reservoir

As a contribution to the development of a new Anglmg Club facility, the Trail Officer has developed an interpretation plan for the Loch.

6.3 Plains Country Park

The Trail Officer co-operates with the Park Management Committee and Park Ranger to promote the Park and its relationship to the Trail.

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7.0 PROPOSED CAPITAL PROJECTS

7.1 Link

Discussions are on-going with Lanarkshire Development Agency and Faskine Estate for a pedestriadcyc1in.g route from Eurocentral through Faskine Estate to the Trail and Calderbank.

7.2 Cairnhill-Brownsburn Path Network

Guided by the Airdrie Paths consultation exercise (para 3.3) funding is being sought from Paths for All and others for a core path network in this area.

7.3 Heritage Interpretation Project

A research consultant was commissioned to investigate the potential for promoting the Iron and Steel industrial heritage along the Trail, with Calderbank as a nodal point. Following further discussion with Museums and Heritage staff, the intention is to work up a Lottery application for heritage interpretation along the Trail as a whole.

8.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

It is recommended that the Committee:

a) Endorses the progress being made towards developing and promoting the North Calder Heritage Trail as a natural and industrial heritage resource. b) Demonstrate commitment to the sustainability of the Trail project, and provide a good standard of maintenance on land owned by the Council. c) Refers this report also to the Planning and Environment Committee.

NRTHCALD.DOC a! How your community can get * e i l@rth Calder Heritage Trail F involved with the Trail

Community Woodland Planting Scheme Bet up a mmwlitymodland In area; they have recmatbn. education and wnmvatlon bedits. Woodland plentlng schemes are coordlnebedby the Central Scotland Cwnbyside Trust.

Wildlife in Why not rmfxcl the wlldlk you 888 amthe Tmll. It ta a geet hobby and the infwmaton ISvital for mervBflOn management. The Notth Lanarkshire Bl~celRecords Centre provides assEstence and cdbb wUdlJfg rw;ordng Informetlon.

Walking Club

Cycling Club QotLrwkdincwprJdamtghrPurwra A ' The North Caldcr HeritagE 'Trail folldws SeP.)Ol: Airdrie and Coatbridge to Calderbank the route of the Monkland Canal and MacRedie Coach & Minibus Hire a -a North Calder Water from Summerlee Heritage Park in Coatbridge to I-Iillend Loch, east of Airdrie. It is 16km long, mostly all on puiposc built paths. The walking is easy and the whole of the Trail can be done in 4-5 hours, using public transpoi-t to get you back to the start. Alternatively you cai use the ca-pwlrs and paths branching ofr from thc Trail to do circular walks. A popular one is to start at Calderhnk arid walk along the Moiikland Canal to the Lock Street Viaduct, then east and south to Monkland Glen , where the Trail is fol- Coatbridge, Shopping 0705 25 45 05 1805 1905 2005 2105 lowed back to Calderbank. Centre To find your way along the Trail just fol- Hospital 0713 33 53 13 Min 1813 1911 201 1 2111 r7 Airdrie, Bus Station 0717 then 37 57 17 Past 1817 1915 2015 21 15 low the waymarking signs. 1he yellow ar- Clarkston, Forrest Road 0723 at 43 03 23 Each 1823 1920 2020 2120 rows take you towards Hillend Loch and Plains, Ballochnie Road 0729 49 09 29 Hour 1829 ...... the red arrows take you to Summerlee Caldercruix, Moss Ave- 0737 57 17 37 until 1837 1930 2030 2130 Helitage Park. nue Parts of the Trail follow the lhrlh-Clydc Cycle Route, which goes from IGIinar- nock, Loch Lomond and Glasgow in the west to Edinburgh and Mussleborough in Caldercruix, Moss 0708 28 08 48 M in 1728 1748 1808 1838 1935 2035 thc east. The Forth Cycle Route is dc- Avenue Plains, Ballochnie 0716 Then 36 16 56 Past 1736 1756 1816 ...... scribed in a separate leaflet available from Drive Sustrans Tel:Ol17 929 0888. Clarkston, Forrest 0722 at 42 22 02 Each 1742 1802 1822 1848 1945 2045 Road Plains, Bus Station 0728 48 28 08 Hour 1748 1808 1828 1853 1950 2050 Monkland Hospital 0742 52 32 12 until 1752 1812 1832 1857 1954 2054 2 Coatbridge, Shopping 0740 00 40 20 1800 1820 1840 1903 2 03 Centre Oo0 2Y