Mark and Councillor Jim Brooks, Convenor of the Coatbridge Local
Area Partnership for North Lanarkshire Council, unveiled a six
metre high sculptural steel archway which features Captain
Coatbridge and two female superheroes holding the moon, stars and
sun aloft.
Together, the superheroes give a tongue in cheek welcome to
visitors to Scotland's fifth, and latterly, unsung canal and signal
its rebirth as an attractive modern waterside space for the local
community.
Made up of thousands of pieces of painstakingly shaped steel
welded together, the archway was created by renowned Scottish
artist Andy Scott. It is inspired by Mark's award-winning work and
ideas generated by Advanced Higher Art students at his childhood
school, St Ambrose High, who took part in workshops led by local
artist Merlin Currie.
The archway, along with new landscaping and access improvements
at Blair Bridge, create a new gateway to the two hundred year old
Monkland Canal, specifically improving the 2.3km stretch of canal
between Blair Bridge and Bargeddie. The gateway also features a
number of complementary stone seats featuring comic book style
expressions such as 'Skud!' and 'Skelp!'.
The new gateway at Blair Bridge is part of a series of projects
and enhancements (detailed below) led by The Monkland Canal
Steering Group, which was established to reopen the canal to the
public, creating an attractive space and offering more opportunity
for healthier living through cycling, walking and running.
The Group comprises British Waterways Scotland, North
Lanarkshire Council, The Waterways Trust Scotland, Sustrans,
Central Scotland Forestry Trust, Summerlee Museum, the Forestry
Commission Scotland, Calderbank Heritage Society and Calderbank
Regeneration Group.
North Lanarkshire Council's Landscape Services designed the new
landscape improvement programme at Blair Bridge to raise the
quality and feel of the area from an uncared for waste land into an
inspiring and inviting entrance.
The environmental improvements and access works were funded by
North Lanarkshire Council's Local Development Fund and WREN (Waste
Recycling Environmental Limited), a not for profit business which
awards grants to community, environmental and heritage projects
across the UK from funds donated by Waste Recycling Group (WRG) to
the Landfill Communities Fund.
Sustrans also kindly contributed to the access
works. Sustrans has been very supportive of the Monkland Canal
project, helping to fund these access improvements and promoting
the canal corridor as an important strategic route for cycling and
walking.
Speaking at the opening of the new
gateway, Councillor Jim Brooks, Convenor of the Coatbridge
Local Area Partnership for North Lanarkshire Council,
said:
"Projects like this, which enhance the local environment and
create a feature for the whole community to enjoy, are what the
Local Development Fund is all about. This new archway highlights
not only the recent improvement works done in Coatbridge, but also
the town's industrial heritage and bright future. Coatbridge has
twice been voted Best Small City by Beautiful Scotland; and this
year made the finals of the RHS Britain in Bloom campaign. This
project will help us build on that achievement and continue to make
Coatbridge a town we can all be proud of."
Mark Millar added:
"I grew up in Coatbridge and both my parents were literally born
a few streets from here. In fact, I used to try to and catch frogs
at this very spot on the canal. It is brilliant to see the Monkland
Canal and the surrounding area being celebrated and becoming more
accessible for the Coatbridge community."
Elaine Smith MSP said:
"Having approached British Waterways a number of years ago to
explore ways to have the canal basin regenerated as an attractive
amenity for the town, I am delighted that work is progressing at
various parts of the old canal.
"I was delighted to attend the opening of the newest phase at
Blair Bridge.
"It is important that we celebrate the industrial heritage of
our town, symbolised by the canal which once carried the coal and
steel from Coatbridge into Glasgow.
"I hope that the canal will now become a well-used facility both
for the people of Coatbridge and for visitors to the town."
Richard Millar, Waterway Development Manager, British
Waterways Scotland, said:
"This is a great day for all the community groups,
schoolchildren and funding partners who have worked hard with
the Monkland Canal Steering Group to create this stunning new
gateway which really signals the changing face of this forgotten
waterway. It is wonderful to see how everyone has taken pride in
and embraced this formerly unloved and uncared for asset
designing this new gateway but also beginning a raft
of additional innovative and exciting projects which will
bring the Monkland Canal back to life and give it a real
future as a valued community space."
Peter Cox, Managing Director of WREN, said:
"WREN makes a difference to people's lives by awarding grants to
community, environmental and heritage projects across the UK. We're
delighted to support the new gateway for the Monkland Canal and the
valuable work going on in and around the waterway."
Karen Moore, Development Director, The Waterways Trust
Scotland, added:
"This new gateway to the canal shows just what can be
achieved by partners and communities working together. We now
have a great opportunity to build on this success and create more
great canalside spaces for people to enjoy. We hope the
archway and the space will be enjoyed by local people and visitors
for many years to come."
John Lauder, National Director, Sustrans Scotland,
added:
"Sustrans Scotland was delighted to work with the Monkland Canal
Steering Group on this great project which gives people another
great option for walking and cycling in their local area."
The Revitalisation of the Monkland
Canal
Since it was established in 2008, the Monkland Canal Steering
Group has been working with the local community and a range of
partners to reinvigorate the Monkland Canal, which was the most
successful of the five Scottish canals.
In its heyday in the mid 19th century, the Monkland
Canal moved more than a million tonnes of coal and iron ore each
year and incorporated an early Falkirk Wheel of its day (The Gazoon
Boatlift) and double locks at Blackhill. The world's first iron
boat, The Vulcan, was also launched on the canal.
The first phase of work on the
canal has built on the environment and heritage of
the waterway and making connections between waterside communities,
the canal, Summerlee Museum of Industrial Life and Drumpellier
Country Park.
Completed initiatives include the Drumpellier Circular Walk,
which includes a viewing platform and panels designed by artist
Merlin Currie and children at St Kevin's and Bargeddie primary
schools; an upgraded entrance to the Sikeside stretch and a new
gateway at Calderbank designed with the input of over 150
schoolchildren.
North Lanarkshire Council's Sustainable Transport Team is also
working with the National Cycle Charity Sustrans to redirect the
line of the NCN75 Glasgow to Edinburgh Cycle Path along the route
of the canal between Coatbridge town centre and Bargeddie.
This new route will offer cyclists and pedestrians alike a
completely traffic-free link, with optional links into the Time
Capsule, West End Park, Drumpellier Country Park, the new St
Ambrose High School and The Strathkelvin Walkway.
The next phase of works on the Monkland Canal will include a new
bridge across the North Calder water which will reopen links with
the wider green network of paths and cycleways, further access
improvements, interpretation and artworks along the canal corridor
and an exciting new interpretation centre focused on the restored
Vulcan at Summerlee.
The New Archway
The imagery within the archway, which measures some 6m high and
7.3m across, evokes the history of the area and the Monkland Canal
which was opened in 1794.
The industrial history of Coatbridge and the Monkland Canal
is represented on one side, with images of foundrymen, iron and
steel, cranes, smoke and chains.
On the other side, the new enhanced environment and the natural
assets of the canal, present and future, are illustrated by 'Mother
Nature' who is surrounded by the birds, animals and insects, which
now inhabit the once industrial landscape.
The three superheroes stand in the centre, welcoming visitors
into the Blair Bridge area of the canal. The superheroes are a
tribute to Mark Millar, who is one of the world's leading
comic book writers and who is currently achieving great success in
Hollywood and beyond.
The superheroes hold emblems of the sun and the moon,
symbolising the passage of time and the changes in the canal
and the greater area.
The drawing style and fabrication technique is deliberately
reminiscent of comic book art.
The artwork took six months to complete in Andy's Glasgow
studio.
The Monkland Canal
The 12 mile long Monkland Canal opened in 1794 with the prime
purpose of transporting coal and iron from the coal mining areas of
Monklands into Glasgow. It was the most successful of the five
Scottish canals and of major importance to the development of
Coatbridge, Calderbank and East Glasgow.
Activity on the canal reached a peak during the 1850s when the
waterway was used to transport over one million tonnes of coal and
iron ore and large quantities of dependable water to the industries
on its banks each year.
Unfortunately, the decline of the canal, which was designed by
the engineer James Watt who was later famous for designing steam
engines, was also the most rapid of the Scottish canals. By the
1920s, trade on the canal was minimal. By the 1940s the canal was
regarded solely as an eyesore. In 1942 it was closed to navigation
and by 1952 it was closed and piped.
Today, whilst a major section of the canal lies underneath the
M8 motorway, three stretches of waterway remain accessible: a small
spur within Summerlee Heritage Park, a 2km stretch between Sikeside
and Calderbank and a 2.3km stretch from Blairbridge to
Bargeddie.
A range of community-led artwork and improvement projects are
underway to bring the canal back to life as a valued community
asset.
-ends-
Issued by Joanna Harrison on
behalf of British Waterways Scotland
Mobile: 07884 187404
Email: joannaharrisonpr@aol.com
Notes to Editors
Mark Millar
- Award-winning writer Mark Millar has revamped the X-Men,
brought The Avengers into the 21st century with The Ultimates
(recently winning Comic-Book of the Decade in Time Magazine) and
made Superman a communist in Superman: Red Son. His Civil War epic
for Marvel is their highest-selling series in over ten years.
- In 2004 Millar launched a line of creator-owned comics under
the name of Millarworld. Wanted and Kick-Ass titles are the
industry's biggest-selling creator-owned books since the
millennium, both properties were sold as movies before the first
issue hit the stands. Wanted starred Angelina Jolie and James
McAvoy; and Kick-Ass starred actor Nicolas Cage. All Millar's
latest creator-owned properties have been acquired with a view to
cinema release; Nemesis by hot Hollywood director Tony Scott,
Supercrooks by Spanish director Nacho Vigalondo and a secret
new project with Kick-Ass and X-Men First Class director Matthew
Vaughn.
- Outside comics, Millar has been praised by Marvel Studios and
screenwriter Zak Penn for creating the template for their 2008-2012
movies with his Ultimates monthly series. He and artist Bryan Hitch
cast Samuel L Jackson as the leader of this team and their
influence extends into every Marvel movie on their upcoming slate -
although busy creating his own movies and comic books now at
Millarworld.
The Scottish Canals
- There are five Scottish canals: the Caledonian, Crinan, Forth
& Clyde, Union and Monkland canals. Together, they wend over
137 miles through the stunning countryside of the Great Glen and
Mid Argyll, across the central belt and into the heart of Glasgow,
Edinburgh, Inverness and Falkirk. They connect east and west
coasts and join Edinburgh and Glasgow via the world's only fully
rotating boatlift, the internationally recognised Falkirk
Wheel.
- Four out of the five two hundred year old canals are Scheduled
Ancient Monuments. Once a major driver of the Industrial
Revolution, today they are rich with heritage and wildlife and
stimulate tourism, regeneration, placemaking and social enterprise
within waterside communities across the country.
- This year is the tenth anniversary of the Forth & Clyde
Canal. The anniversary will be marked by a weekend long,
community-led event, Forth & Clyde 10. During the weekend, over
80 boats of all shapes and sizes will travel between Glasgow and
The Falkirk Wheel in celebration.
- For more information on the Scottish canals or Forth &
Clyde 10, please visit www.scottishcanals.co.uk
WREN
WREN is a not for profit business which award grants to
community, environmental and heritage projects across the UK from
funds donated by Waste Recycling Group (WRG) as part of a voluntary
environmental tax credit scheme called the Landfill Communities
Fund. Since 1998, WREN has granted over £140m to more than 5,500
projects which benefit people living within ten miles of a WRG
landfill site.