Things you wish you had said

Each day I travel from Cumbernauld to Kirkintilloch to work and as part of that journey use the Blackwood roundabout. Last summer I remember being uplifted each day by the wonderful display of natural wildflowers that appeared on the roundabout. They seemed like something out of an impressionist painting or some of those wonderful meadows you encounter in the countryside.

I remember at the time thinking I should write to the Parks department of North Lanarkshire Council and congratulate them on such a wonderful display and express how much pleasure their work had given me. Unfortunately I didn’t do so at the time.

Last month I noticed work on this years scheme underway and was somewhat disappointed to see that they had changed their approach and were going for a much harder landscaping scheme, don’t get me wrong the current scheme like many of the others around Cumbernauld shows creativity and an attempt to create a positive civic space but I am afraid in my opinion it doesn’t give half the pleasure that those lovely meadow flowers did last year.


Imagine my surprise and disappointment therefore to see the same roundabout proclaimed as an eyesore in the Cumbernauld news and local Councillor Bob Chada and disgruntled resident David Pollock proclaiming their success at replacing the eyesore with the sustainable scheme.

For me it is a lesson learned, when you see something being done locally that you approve of don’t be silent, express your approval letting others know of your support and how you appreciate their work. I would hate for those in the Parks department who had the vision to plant the wildflower meadow on a roundabout not to realise that people appreciated their work and perhaps you might find that you are part of a silent majority which is often it seems ignored in favour of the complainers.