North Lanarkshire Council’s Community Partnership Team worked with the Newmains and District Community Council and local people to develop a plan for the area.  

The key themes that emerged from engagement with the community are:

• Traffic and parking
• Work and local economy
• Social Interaction
• Care and maintenance
• Influence and sense of control

Vicki Peacock, community partnership officer, explained: “We held a meeting with a group of residents and representatives of the Newmains and District Community Council to discuss initial ideas and processes, followed by a community-led walkabout around Newmains to highlight issues and ideas for possible improvements in the area. 

“We also enlisted the support of the Newmains Community Trust (NCT), which operates the NCT Centre and has a vested interest in community living in the area. The Wishaw Community Engagement LOIP subgroup created a working group and developed an engagement timeline, including meetings, activities and events. 

“The groups involved secured two sets of funding supported by the subgroup during this process to implement engagement and to progress the next steps.”

Representatives from Newmains Community Trust (NCT), Newmains & District Community Council, Councillor Geraldine Woods (Convener of Communities), local elected members, and North Lanarkshire Council’s Community Partnership Team attended the official launch. 

The event took place at the NCT Easter Fun Day on 11 April, and more than 100 copies of the plan were distributed to residents. 

The plan was also promoted and distributed to 150 families at the parents’ night in partnership with the Newmains and St Brigid’s Community Hub.

An action group, including key representatives from local organisations and people in the area, has been established to implement the plan’s actions and outcomes.