Day centre money switched to help with road improvements

North Lanarkshire Council is to use money earmarked for an older person’s day centre in Motherwell to pay for road repairs – but claim the complex will still go ahead.

Last month the housing and social work committee agreed to move forward with plans for the centre as part of their aim to provide integrated day services.

The Times & Speaker understands two sites, including one that was formerly used as a care home, were being looked at.

The cost of the centre is estimated at around £1.5 million and the project will be phased to spend £500,000 during the 2011/12 financial year and the balance the year after.

The policy and resources committee last week approved plans to use the balance to give an immediate boost to it’s roads programme.

A council spokesman said: “Following the deterioration in the condition of the roads network over the past two winters the service has re-prioritised expenditure to accelerate spending.”