SECTARIAN vandals have targeted an Orange Hall with vile pro-IRA graffiti hours before today’s powderkeg Old Firm game
The sickos pounced overnight at the building in New Stevenston, near Motherwell, as Celtic and Rangers got ready for their Premiership clash at Ibrox
Hoops-supporting yobs daubed two huge Irish flags on the walls of the New Stevenston Orange Hall as well as twisted taunts
The shuttered main entrance has been de-faced with an IRA slogan and KAH - which is understood to stand for ‘Kill all huns”
Another sinister message scrawled on the building reads "Brits out”
An image of the paint attack has been shared online by appalled locals - some of whom will be watching the game at the Rangers-supporting social club
"You've got to wonder what goes through their minds
“Thankfully it’s all been painted over quickly and folk can look forward to the match without having to be confronted with it.”
Images of the building before and after the damage was removed have been shared online
we received a report of vandalism at a premises in the Clydesdale Street area of New Stevenston
It comes amid rising tensions between the two sets of supporters who clashed in violent scenes after the recent League Cup final.
Cops have since released nearly 20 mugshots of football hooligans they want to track down
It comes after ultras took to the streets of Glasgow throwing punches and hurling pyrotechnics on December 15
Video showed a mass brawl outside a coffee shop on Argyle Street
as terrified customers watched Rangers and Celtic yobs clash
Gers supporting Union Bears ultras wore balaclavas and Santa hats
while Green Brigade Celtic casuals carrying flares
Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click here
Selina Rashid, who took over New Stevenston Post Office in 2014, said her father was put into a panic after money started 'vanishing overnight'.
Selina Rashid has said her mental health has suffered amid the ongoing scandal which saw hundreds of subpostmasters across the UK wrongly convicted as the computer system made it appear as though money was missing from their branches.
She said £10,000 went missing over the course of a decade at her branch.
Ms Rashid took over the New Stevenston Post Office with her dad in 2014 and said it was “exciting” at first – until money started to go missing, causing her and her father to panic.
“We were excited…but money started going missing, accused of stealing… dad shouted at”, she told STV News.
“You just pray things will balance.”
On Friday, Selina said she was ‘sickened’ as the boss of Fujitsu, the company which made the faulty Horizon software, apologised for its role in the scandal.
Paul Patterson said the company had “clearly let society down”.
“It’s sickening,” Selina told STV News. “It makes you sick thinking that you knew all that time what you were doing to people.
“You knew you were putting them in jail for your mistakes, your problems, and you think ‘sorry,’ is going to help? We were excited to take it on because it was something new.
“But then we had a few issues. Money was vanishing overnight. When the auditor came, I told her, I said, ‘There’s something wrong with your system. There’s money vanishing.’
“And she kept saying, ‘No, the computer doesn’t make mistakes. You stole it.’ They told my dad, he’s a 60-year-old man, ‘You’re a thief’. They were shouting at him.”
Despite subpostmasters up and down the country being put through what’s been described as the most widespread miscarriage of justice in British legal history, the faulty horizon system remains in operation.
It means that as subpostmasters wait for the outcome of the inquiry and the full compensation of those wrongly prosecuted and mistreated, many are still dealing with mystery shortfalls on a regular basis.
“Every postmaster in the UK on a Wednesday, is sitting saying, ‘Please, God, let this balance’,” Ms Rashid added.
The Post Office has said postmasters encountering issues with the software should get in touch.
It comes as Fujitsu’s European boss Paul Patterson told the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry on Friday that the technology giant apologised for the “appalling miscarriage of justice” that saw hundreds of subpostmasters wrongly convicted.
He said the company came to its recent decision to offer to help with compensation after gathering its own evidence and after it “considered our moral obligations to the victims of this crime”.
Mr Patterson offered to meet with subpostmasters and their legal representatives but said he had not met any yet as he “didn’t feel it was appropriate for me to do that”.
He said: “This is a decades-old miscarriage which started a long, long time ago and involves many, many people in organisations in that.
“I think Fujitsu more recently, as we’ve understood more, we have clearly let society down and the subpostmasters down.
“I think we had our obligations to the Post Office to be at the front of everything we were doing and that was wrong.
“I think subsequently we’ve now seen where the evidence is taking us and the investigation is taking us and that’s why you’ve had the statements from Fujitsu more recently.
“I can only tell you my honest view today, which is we have come to this conclusion as we’ve gone through the inquiry and gathered our evidence and considered our moral obligations to the victims of this crime, and that is why you’ve heard what I’ve said most recently.
“Again, I don’t know why in the past we didn’t say those things.”
At the start of his evidence, Mr Patterson once again offered his apologies to subpostmasters.
He said: “To the subpostmasters and their families, we apologise.
“Fujitsu apologises and is sorry for our part in this appalling miscarriage of justice.
“This inquiry is examining those events forensically over many, many decades, which involve many parties, not least Fujitsu and the Post Office, but other organisations and individuals.
“We are determined to continue to support this inquiry and get to the truth wherever it lays and at the conclusion of the inquiry and the guidance from this inquiry, engage with government on suitable contribution and redress to the subpostmasters and their families.”
STV News is now on WhatsAppGet all the latest news from around the country
Follow STV News Follow STV News on WhatsAppScan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
'+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text+'
"+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title+"
"+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text+"
Taylor High School chemistry teacher, Whitney McChoi(Image: Stuart Vance/ReachPlc)A Lanarkshire school teacher has learned to unwind through the therapeutic art form of pottery – a mindfulness practice that helps him to give his all to his day job
Whitney Choi, who teaches chemistry at Taylor High School in New Stevenston, Motherwell
has immersed himself in a number of solitary hobbies from a young age
including origami – the Japanese art of folding paper
Having also developed a passion for sewing
Whitney in the summer of 2021 signed up for the first of two five-week courses at The Craft Pottery Studio in Glasgow city centre
The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now
Get all the news from your area – as well as features
sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips
The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories
and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you
Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android
enthusiastic team of resident potters with diverse backgrounds in ceramics
With three working studios situated in a former warehouse
the Axiom Building on Wellington Street hosts on its first floor other artist studios and small businesses
making for a vibrant learning and teaching environment
Whitney found his perfect zen space in which to create everything from dipping bowls and mugs
Whitney is hands-on(Image: MacChoi Pottery)As he was completing his second five-week course
studio manager and senior wheel tutor Nadia Jones for the first time made studio space available for rent – and Whitney was among the first to grasp the opportunity to devote more of his free time to his new-found craft
I like to do background research,” he explained
“I like to look at the chemistry behind it
Whitney grew in confidence and his pieces became finer and less crude
Examples of Whitney's eye-catching work(Image: MacChoi Pottery)“Sometimes
you are your own worst critic and you don’t think your pieces are good enough to sell,” he continued
“I can see all the wee bits I’m not too happy with – a bit of OCD coming in there
“But people at the studios have been doing pottery for years
They are a lovely bunch and have so much experience
“They will be very complimentary and help you to improve and refine your work.”
MacChoi Pottery even caters for pampered pets(Image: MacChoi Pottery)Whitney gifted many of his creations from the initial course to family and friends
and kept a few pieces for himself – including small blue dipping bowls which he and his partner still use at home
The first time he made a sale was when he took a stall at the Christmas fair held at Taylor High
it gave me a bit more confidence in selling my pieces,” he said
Taylor High School in New Stevenston(Image: Whitney Choi)Every Sunday afternoon
Whitney can be found at the wheel in the studio
recovery for the mind and the body so that
Having been persuaded by more experienced potters
that there was a commercial appetite for his products
Whitney last year began to exhibit at makers’ markets
including those at Glasgow’s Merchant Square
Clydebank Shopping Centre and the iconic Browns Lane in Paisley
“It is amazing how people call on their creativity in how they use my pottery,” explained Whitney
who says he’s now becoming more adventurous with forms and the use of colours and potters’ tools
“Everyone will look at one of my pieces and see a different thing.”
MacChoi Pottery products are showcased at makers' markets(Image: MacChoi Pottery)As well as crockery for food and drink
Whitney – a huge advocate of the cognitive skill of mindfulness – also hand-crafts worry pebbles
ready to grab when worry or stress strikes
the pebble’s texture can promote feelings of relaxation and an escape for several seconds from the pressures of modern living
helping people to breathe and heighten awareness of their surroundings
Like all of Whitney’s lovingly-crafted creations
the worry pebbles are etched with MacCoi Pottery’s trademark symbol
The company's logo is based on Whitney's Chinese name
Choi Yin Nan(Image: MacChoi Pottery)Whitney was 12 years old when he left his birthplace of Hong Kong for New Zealand
where he started high school before moving to Scotland in 2006
He studied forensic chemistry at the University of Strathclyde and graduated in 2010
he gained a post-graduate diploma in education
Now a passionate and inspirational teacher of chemistry at Taylor High School
Whitney is also a member of Blythswood and Broomielaw Community Council
The Craft Pottery Studio is in the process of forming a partnership with the community council that will see low-income families being able to access pottery classes at no or low cost
Whitney finds pottery therapeutic(Image: MacChoi Pottery)“They are really conscious about social justice and regeneration in the studio
and that is something I am passionate about as well,” said Whitney
“I have benefited so much from it in terms of my mental health
and we want to help people in the same way.”
Those who frequent makers’ markets can expect Whitney to have more of a presence in 2024
giving discerning purchasers an opportunity to own something that’s quirky
unique and stamped with his quality hallmark
Whitney experiments with exciting designs(Image: MacChoi Pottery)“I am still learning about how to price things
because it’s a very objective area,” he admits
“It depends on how much you like the piece and the time spent making it
Potter Whitney Choi at work(Image: MacChoi Pottery)“The decorations are hand-painted and they take more time
The things I have made lately cost a little bit more
“I am getting to the point where I’m more confident and I’m taking on some commissions.”
Customers love Whitney's signature pieces(Image: MacChoi Pottery)Towards the end of last year
a friend commissioned Whitney to make six pieces to give to family and friends as Christmas presents
so that the recipients could see the evolution of their gift
from the initial sketch to the finished creation
and invited him to choose six,” said Whitney
tranquillity and a space to breathe through the comfort and companionship of his beloved Ellie – a half-Rag Doll ginger and white long-haired cat
He and his partner also recently welcomed into their lives from a breeder in Cumbria
Whitney recreated Star Wars characters through his origami skills(Image: MacChoi Pottery)Despite his ceramics
knitted and sewn garments and intricate origami to which he devotes hours
this modest crafter insists creativity is not his forte
but I have to take inspiration from other sources to create certain things,” he said
find MacCoi Pottery on Facebook and Instagram
Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here
And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share!
We use cookies to improve your experience of using our website
Please let us know if you agree to the use of these cookies
The Church of Scotland has expressed shock and sadness after 49 people were killed and at least 20 wounded in shootings at two mosques in Christchurch
has written a prayer in reaction to the atrocity which happened around the time people were attending for Friday prayers
secretary of the Church and Society Council
tweeted: "Thoughts and prayers with those who have lost loved ones and those injured in the atrocities
"And with my sisters and brothers in the Muslim community in Scotland."
Dunfermline Abbey has sent a message of support to Dunfermline Central Mosque
It reads: "We want to pass on our words of support and solidarity as you head to prayers today
"There is no place in the world for intolerance and hatred that we have witnessed in New Zealand
"In this season of prayer and fasting for our own community
we will be reflecting on the value of diversity while remembering those who have lost life or loved ones."
Mrs Brown is currently on a Presbytery of Hamilton visit and last night went to Lanarkshire Mosque and Muslim Welfare Centre at New Stevenston/Mossend
Director-General of the Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society
said those who followed Christianity and Islam represented "different shades of the creator"
The Shia Sheikh said friendships lead to hope and the world is in need of hope because many people were living in a state of confusion.
Contact us
Taylor High School in New Stevenston(Image: WSH])Two extra classrooms are set to be constructed at a Lanarkshire high school
North Lanarkshire Council planners have given the green light for the two new modular buildings with associated ramps and decking within the grounds of Taylor High School in New Stevenston
The classrooms would be located to the south west of the existing school buildings
which would be to the very south of the school grounds
The council planning report states: “With regard to design
the siting of two modular buildings are of an appropriate scale and ties in with the existing character of the high school
“The buildings would not be readily visible from the main road due to the location on these within the site and existing screenign by the main buildings and existing vegetation
“There is adequate school grounds in which to accommodate the proposal
The proposal would cause no impact upon the existing parking provision available at the site
“There are no issues regarding impact upon residential amenity as there are no significant overlooking issues and no significant overshadowing issues to any neighbouring properties
“Overall there is no significant impact and the modular buildings are suitable at this location.”
There was one comment from one member of the public submitted in regards to additional pupils potential and potential for additional traffic
The concern relates to traffic/parking concerns to nearby streets
Will there be anything done about the parking for parents dropping off and picking up
“We sometimes cannot get parked in our car park because of this
I feel this is more of an issue than more classrooms if they’re not needed.”
this concern was dismissed by planners who opted to give the plans the go ahead
The report concludes: “The temporary modular teaching facility complies with Local Plan polices
can be easily accommodated within the site and will have no significant impact on neighbouring residential amenity.”
You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience and security
Nobelprize.org interviewed chemistry laureate David MacMillan in February 2022
He told us about his childhood in Scotland
how his brother’s choice to go to university inadvertently led to his career in science and his research group’s love of pranks
Can you tell us a little bit about your childhood
David MacMillan as a toddler in his childhood neighbourhood in Scotland
David MacMillan: I was born in Bellshill and grew up in a small village called New Stevenston
which was located between two steel works and a coal mine
We had great community – everyone would run in and out of each other’s houses all the time
Similarly when I went to high school it was equally fun
I wasn’t [always interested in science] to be honest
I always feel guilty answering that question
In fact I wanted a chemistry set when I was about eight or nine years old and I immediately destroyed it because I didn’t follow the instructions particularly well
whereas my older brother made all the soap and all the things you were supposed to do with it
So I would say I wasn’t exactly someone who was a classic phenotype who’s going to end up being a scientist
But I wouldn’t say I was someone who was obviously going to become a scientist
David MacMillan as a baby at the beach in Blackpool with his family
L-R: David’s mother May; David (seated on her lap); brother Iain
foreground; father Will; sister Lorraine (seated on her father’s lap)
but my brother was the first person I ever knew who went to uni and the only person anywhere in our community who went to uni and he got a bit of a hard time about it
People thought he was just being lazy – and that’s certainly what my mum and dad thought at the time
And the job actually had a salary that was higher than my father’s salary on day one
I had to be a physicist because that’s what my brother had done
So I think there was always encouragement to go off and do what you wanted to do
It was never that you had to go to uni per se
how did your passion for chemistry come about
I went off to uni and it was just really overwhelming for me
I remember getting there and the physics lecture was the first thing in the morning in this lecture theatre that was absolutely freezing and there was no heating
So in the dead of winter in Scotland you’d be in this freezing lecture theatre
and when it would rain – which in Scotland it rains – the roof would leak and you’d actually get water falling on you which
I went to uni to emulate my brother and it was just clearly not working
was an hour later you would cross the road and I was taking chemistry as my secondary subject
And I started to realise I loved this thing called organic chemistry
the more and more I really enjoyed it and appreciated it
I’ve told people it felt like breathing at times
It was really straightforward which sounds kind of braggy
just that there was no resistance to learning it whatsoever
almost immediately I knew that was where I was going to go
It was a subject I’d not really thought about or spent time looking at before
But as soon as we started learning about it was pretty clear that this was where I was going to go
Your family sound very supportive – can you tell us a little more about your relationship with them
I always tend to get a bit emotional when I get to these parts of these interviews
Starting off with my family in Scotland… I think I’ve said this before
we didn’t grow up with really anything
but we had an incredible support system of parents and people around us who just thought you could do anything
So that was just remarkable in and of itself
You’ve got to be able to enjoy yourself
So I think one of the things which is maintained through all of my family is this closeness
But making sure you really have a good time together
I think that’s been pretty essential
David MacMillan with his wife Jean and their three daughters
Apart from your family was there anybody else that particularly influenced you when you were younger
I had a teacher who was in primary school called Miss McKean
All my teachers in primary school were fantastic
but she was someone who just really worked hard
She would always go that extra mile to try and help you out
I always remember for example she knew I loved reading fiction and other books and she’d come in and give me books to read and say
She was a great example of someone who went the extra mile
but she would always push you as well: What do you know about this
I think as an individual who really helps spark your imagination
in thinking about different directions you can see the world
And she was doing it through talking about the world
but also getting you to read about the world
but also really inspirational in the way that she went about actually being a teacher
I love to teach and I also love not to teach
when I’m actually in the action of teaching and getting up front of people
I think if you talk to almost any academic
they’ll tell you that the hard part is the preparation where you have to put in all the hours
I don’t think it’s anyone’s favourite part
I think we all truly love getting up in front of a class
Just yesterday I was in the middle of teaching something and I could tell it wasn’t working
and start to try and engage them in a completely different way
All of a sudden you can see that they were getting it
when you suddenly see that people get something for the first time and it suddenly clicks
Whenever you can see people for the first time get that piece of knowledge that you know is going to be useful to them down the line
What’s the best thing about your work and being a scientist
One of the greatest things about running a big research group is
for the last 20 years I’ve been interacting with people between the age of basically 19 and 27 and I’ve gotten older and they’ve stayed the same age
So they keep that sort of freshness and that enthusiasm that you get to work with every day
You feel incredibly privileged in that way
my absolute favourite thing in the world is whenever we discover or invent a new reaction
That happens a lot more than you would think
actually we invented a new reaction and I was just sitting in this meeting with 35 people thinking
we didn’t know that this existed yesterday and today this will exist forevermore
Just to be part of it and see it in real time and know that other people are going use it really soon and use it for making medicines and maybe making materials
That’s a remarkably privileged situation to be in to be at that forefront of that scientific endeavour where you can see these innovations happen in real time
seeing new reactions being developed and seeing it in real time
that’s my favourite part of being a scientist
Do you have one piece of advice that you would give to a young scientist
I’d say as a young scientist don’t hesitate to take chances
one thing I’ve found is – it’s really difficult sometimes – but if you just decide that when an opportunity shows up just to go for it
even if you have incredible self-doubt just do it
it always ends up being a hundred times easier than you think it’s going to be
I think we tend to hold ourselves back because we’re worried about what other people think
I think the one thing that I’ve found has been really important in my life is to try and somehow put that on hold and go for things
The second thing I’d say as a scientist
I would say that it’s never about the answers
you can choose to work on thousands of different things
the most important thing you can do as a scientist is not to set off and work on something that at the end of the day
or might be somewhat interesting to other people
it’s always better to think I’m going to spend my time and my energy working on things I believe are going to have an impact
You can do fundamental science and still have an impact on society
If you can merge those two ideas together that allows you to come up with questions of things that you could work on
A lot of times it’s not easy to have answers to those questions
but at least if you set out on trying to address the question at some point solutions will start to show up
You’ve got to have the questions and the good questions before you can ultimately get to those solutions
And what’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given
That was probably one of them – make sure that you’re working on important problems
I think another piece of advice I got from a really great friend whose name is Dennis Dougherty – he’s a professor at Caltech
there’s a hundred thousand ways to get tenure
And what he means by that is there’s no one size fits all formula to do it
You have to go your own way and invent your own path
but if you try and do things the way that other people do it
you’ll just end up being a bad version of that person
What you should do is try and figure out what it is that gets you excited and don’t worry so much about how other people are doing things
Just go off and follow your own path and trust your own instincts
I think that piece of advice for me was just remarkable at the time
to not worry about watching all these geniuses around you do their thing because you can never do what they do
As long as you stick to that I think not only will it work you’ll have a great thing
It’s much more enjoyable to do it that way
One of the joys of your announcement was seeing you celebrate with your research team
How did it feel to be able to share it with them
It was one of the other parts where I felt like the whole world was going to go nuts that day for me
wouldn’t it be great if we still had group meeting anyway
because we always have group meeting in the morning
I think we should still have group meeting this morning
which is the first time in ever they’ve been nice to me
but then we went into the group meeting and the group meeting was fun
but what was really interesting was we had all these photographers and journalists there too who were rolling around group meeting taking pictures of people while we’re presenting the science
So my group were all having a blast with the whole thing
Left: David MacMillan’s email to his group after he found out he had been awarded the Nobel Prize
Right: MacMillan (left) and his research group on the morning of the prize announcement
We understand that when you first found out about the prize you thought it was a prank
It’s a kind of sad story – a classic imposter syndrome story
I was lying in bed – I’m usually an early riser but this day
for some reason I slept in and my wife got up and she could hear my phone buzzing
It was about five thirty in the morning and she was kind of annoyed
Ben List is trying to contact you.” And then there’s a number that says someone who’s from Sweden
So I get out of bed and I’m reading this and it says
“Call me.” So I call him and he didn’t say you’ve won it but he basically said
I have some ex students who are in Sweden and my group are a very mischievous group
They’re the kind of group that would always be up for pranks
And they’ve either cajoled Ben List into doing this
I bet you a thousand dollars it’s not.” And then I literally switched my phone off and went back to sleep
I got up and went downstairs to see who had won the Nobel Prize
I looked on the New York Times to see if they had it and there was this artist rendition of Ben List
and someone who looked something like me and my name at the bottom
It was honestly the most surreal moment of my entire life
I almost honestly fell out the chair staring at this thing
So you bet Ben List a thousand dollars you hadn’t been awarded the prize
You know – I come across as being classically Scottish – I haven’t paid him yet
I think we’re going to be together in San Diego in about a month and a half
I’m trying to figure out if I’m going to pay him in pennies or one of those big cheques
It’ll be the happiest I’ve even been to pay someone a thousand dollars
But I’ll absolutely make sure to make Ben square on the whole bet – I think that’s the least I can do
What will you do with the rest of the money
With my Nobel Prize money what we’re doing is we’re taking 100% of it and giving it to a new charitable trust I’ve started
It’s going to give money every year to underprivileged communities or classes for educational purposes
or to take trips to go to places they couldn’t go before
One of the great things is with all these invitations I’m getting
I’m taking all the honorariums from that as well and putting that all in the trust to build it up
So it has been a dream come true to pay it forward a little bit
It’s one of those things where you realise that at some point there’s a little bit of your effort involved
but there is an incredible amount of fortune along the way
you realise there’s a lot of people who are not so fortunate
and you have to do things help everyone out
That is certainly the way I was brought up and certainly what I believe in going forward
This interview has been edited for length and clarity
Six prizes were awarded for achievements that have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind
The 12 laureates' work and discoveries range from proteins' structures and machine learning to fighting for a world free of nuclear weapons
Tasked with a mission to manage Alfred Nobel's fortune and has ultimate responsibility for fulfilling the intentions of Nobel's will
these academic institutions have worked independently to select Nobel Prize laureates
Several outreach organisations and activities have been developed to inspire generations and disseminate knowledge about the Nobel Prize
Connor McFarlane appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court on FridayA knife-wielding teenager threatened and chased another male in a busy street in broad daylight
Connor McFarlane was arrested by police officers who happened to be driving past at the time
appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Friday
He admitted possession of a knife and threatening or abusive behaviour towards an unidentified person in Carfin Street
said: "The accused was seen to be waving a large kitchen knife in a threatening manner
"He was involved with another male and it looked like they were going to start fighting
"The other male shouted and threw an object at the accused
"McFarlane then ran towards the other male who made his escape
There was a chase before the accused returned to Carfin Street."
Defence agent Diarmid Bruce said the other person was McFarlane's pal
The pair had been drinking before having a "disagreement"
McFarlane's record includes a High Court conviction when he was just 16
He has been in custody since his arrest on the latest charges in May and Mr Bruce said he has a job in a call centre lined up when he is released
Sheriff Liam Murphy deferred sentence until next month for background reports
*Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here
Gartcosh Primary's current building is more than a century old(Image: Daily Record)Classroom extensions are set to be added to four Lanarkshire schools to accommodate rising pupil rolls
North Lanarkshire Council is applying for planning permission to install modular classroom buildings at Glencairn Primary in Motherwell and at Auchinloch Primary
Similar buildings are also due to be installed at Gartcosh Primary and Taylor High in New Stevenston early in the new term to provide additional teaching space
The new application for Glencairn Primary shows the new structure creating two classrooms
plus office space which council officials say would be used “for peripatetic teaching staff based on site”
Last year’s roll of 378 pupils at the Motherwell school exceeded the current building capacity of 367; and if planning permission is granted
the new classrooms could be installed early in 2024
The same timescale applies to the proposed unit containing two classrooms plus toilet facilities and stores in the schools grounds at Auchinloch
which last term had 95 pupils – almost reaching its capacity of 100
Gartcosh Primary will have a second additional two-class building installed in the school grounds by the end of next month
adding to the double classroom space already in place
The century-old school building itself can accommodate 188 pupils – but last year’s roll had 235 and numbers are projected to reach 351 within two years amid considerable housebuilding in the growth area
Council officials propose to put the extra building
taking the total number of classroom extensions to four
in place for the next three years until a much-needed new school for the area is due to open
North Lanarkshire has purchased three parcels of recreation land at Woodneuk Avenue and Johnston Road to construct the new building – finally concluding a lengthy site search lasting several years and which was described by local councillor Greg Lennon as a “mammoth saga”
Public consultation on the relocation is currently taking place with a committee decision expected next month on progressing to the next stage of plans to create a community hub incorporating primary
nursery and additional support needs education plus community facilities
modular buildings to create four new classrooms are due to be installed at Taylor High in the coming months
providing extra space for pupils after last year’s school roll reached 984
* Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here