Burst pipe hits centre

Three offices in the Centre have had supplies cut off - the Cumbernauld News, Decoy Clothing and McLachlan Opticians. The shops have remained open, but the News Office has been closed due to staff shortages.

A spokeswoman for Cumbernauld Town Centre management said: "We are aware of the problem and will carry out the needed repairs as soon as possible. However we need the council to divert traffic from Central Way in order to use a scissors lift, and this is problematic due to the condition of alternative routes such as Carbrain Ring Road."

A spokeswoman for Lachlan Opticians said: "We've stayed open throughout this situation but have had to start buying in supplies of bottled water.

Wendy Steel of Decoy Clothing said: "We've been able to stay open for the time being but we are worried about other leaks, including one in our electrical cupboard of all places, and another leak outside the shop as well."

A spokesman for North Lanarkshire Council said: ?We have discussed the situation with the Town Centre management and are hopeful the carriageway will be closed for no more than two hours overnight tonight (Thursday, December 9) to allow temporary repairs. We may be able to restrict this to lane closures, rather than a full closure.

Stephen Griffiths of CNC Property Management, landlords of the affected part of the town centre, blamed the problem on old pipework and explained the plans for the permanent fix to this problem.

"It is quite a big job which will require closures for four nights though this will be phased with just one side of Central Way closed off at a time. The westbound side of the road will be closed between 8pm and 6am on Friday and Saturday nights, and the eastbound lanes will be closed at the same times on Sunday and Monday nights."