WISHAW IS ‘A BLOT ON THE LANDSCAPE’

Oct 31 2007 By Joe O’Brien, Wishaw Press

WISHAW is in the running to be named Scotland’s most dismal town.

The Plook on the Plinth Award, part of Architecture Scotland’s Carbuncle Awards 2008, is handed to the town voted the country’s biggest eyesore each year.

And Wishaw town centre has been nominated for its “lack of positive changes” and dingy image.

One anonymous voter on the Carbuncle Awards website — www.thecarbuncles.co.uk — said: “For a long time Wishaw town centre has been slowly dying. Despite this, and with North Lanarkshire Council having an ‘action plan’, only small interventions have taken place and only scratched the surface of the problems.

“It is time for Wishaw to reinvent itself. It has always been the poor neighbour of Motherwell and things will only get worse.”

And another added: “The Ravenscraig ‘New Town’ will not help Wishaw, instead it will turn it into a ghost town.

“People will shop in the new shopping centre, then they’ll prefer to live there. Your only benefit may be jobs — if they put in the right transport infrastructure. Then again this is NLC.”

The proposed Ravenscraig development, which will see the construction of a brand new town, is also up for a Carbuncle this year — despite work on the project only just getting underway.

It’s up against the Troon waste transfer and recycling site, Glasgow’s Clyde front and Springfield Quay in the Pock Mark category for the worst planning decision.

The Carbuncle Awards are split into three categories — the Plook on the Plinth award for most dismal town, Pock Mark category for worst planning decision and the ‘Zit Building’ for Scotland’s worst building.

The shortlists for all of the awards are drawn up by a jury from public nominations with the “winner” selected by a poll on the website.

However Wishaw’s nomination for the infamous Plook award was dismissed by Motherwell and Wishaw MSP Jack McConnell, although he admitted action was needed.

He said: “While these awards should not be taken too seriously, Wishaw town centre does need to be improved.

“With the new Tesco and planned road improvements, progress is in sight.

“But it has taken too long to get this far, and a concerted effort is required, with real urgency shown by all involved.

“North Lanarkshire Council and other public bodies must take up their responsibilities, but it is just as important for local businesses in the town centre to be looking at ways in which they can work together to make it a more attractive place.

“The Scottish Government could do a lot more to enable businesses and local councils to access funds to make improvements.

“I will write to the new Government to see what proposals they are planning to put in place to improve local town centres like Wishaw.

“At the election, Labour’s policy of creating Town Centre Trusts with a national fund to support improvements was widely welcomed.

“The SNP should put aside party politics and adopt that plan as soon as possible.”

Pat Kelly, of North Lanarkshire Council, said: “We believe the whole premise of the Carbuncle Awards is flawed. It does not take into consideration investments made or planned for the future, focusing instead solely on perceptions of aesthetics, which form only part of any town’s overall success.”

Winners of each Carbuncle Award category will be announced in November.

n What do you think? Does Wishaw deserve its Carbuncle nomination? Or is the nomination a bit harsh on the town? E-mail your thoughts to reporter Joe O’Brien at jobrien@s-un.co.uk