Cold water poured on waves concern

North Lanarkshire Council spent a whopping 963,000 from its capital budget to create a 'light sculpture' which will give motorists the impression that they are driving through a wave.

This is achieved not merely by the lighting itself but gigantic neon metal 'fins' on the side of the road. The wave design effect is intended to reflect the origin of Cumbernauld's Gaelic name Comar-nan-Allt - or 'the meeting of the waters.'

But irate locals have previously argued that the money may have been better spent on improving local amenities, filling potholes, suppporting community groups and saving primary schools from closure.

The News has received a number of calls last week which appeared to suggest that the project has not been attended to in weeks - and that abandoned ladders have been seen on the sites.

This week we contacted North Lanarkshire Council on the issue, where a spokesman stressed that the matter was in hand

He said:"Work on the Cumbernauld Town Centre Vehicular Approaches project is nearing completion and we would expect the lighting to be commissioned by mid-December. "

And he added: "Grass seeding of the central areas of the roundabouts is scheduled to be undertaken in early spring."

The News understands that the project is unlikely to be the subject of a high profile launch.