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Councillors have unanimously granted a community asset transfer to a group in Coatbridge despite a report recommending their application be refused. North Lanarkshire Council's communities committee agreed to lease land in Cecil Street Park to Rural Rest to operate an outdoor wellbeing space, offering activities designed to improve mental health, such as therapeutic and recreational sessions, workshops,volunteering and skills development and informal gatherings. The group had proposed renting the southeast corner of the park for a nominal sum of £1 per year. The land is valued at up to £1500. A report presented to the committee welcomed the concept as a positive one and also described Rural Rest as enthusiastic. But it also criticised the application for providing sufficient evidence that it would be able to achieve its goals, especially with regard to financial details. Part of the report stated: "The submission does not include a budget, costed plan, or cash-flow. "Funding is largely aspirational, with no secured grants for capital or early operating and resource costs. "The request relies on the peppercorn rent being approved, and effectively a cost-neutral approach by the organisation. "With very limited financial information available it is difficult to substantiate how core resource costs will be covered. This remains a critical weakness." At the committee meeting, Councillor Louise Roarty (Labour, Murdostoun) proposed an amendment to grant the application, saying that Rural Rest was a "highly committed" group who seek to strengthen a safe space for those in the community to take time out, and that the proposed facility would be the first of its kind in North Lanarkshire. She added: "This comes from decent people who want to do the right thing for others. "I am aware of personal trainers who use our parks and green spaces regularly for activities like yoga who have no formal agreement with North Lanarkshire Council to use these areas, many for financial gain, yet we have Rural Rest who want to follow the correct procedures and establish a facility for all who require some additional support, especially around mental health." Councillor Roarty also referred to the suicide rate in North Lanarkshire and how each such death affects many other people. Her amendment was unanimously accepted by the committee, thereby approving the community asset transfer. *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here . And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here .
