CUMBERNAULD & Kilsyth face brutal cuts and redundancies as cuts package is flagged up.

Local secondaries, home care, street cleaning, bin uplifts and other crucial services are under serious threat locally after news of cuts started to filter through.

The grim news was flagged up in part at a well-attended AGM of Cumbernauld Community Forum last week - but now further news of the cuts has come to light.

Last week attendees learned that a giant consultation process is to get underway next month - in order to give locals a chance to have their say on what they believe should be retained.

The results will be processed in New Year – in preparation for the beginning of the new financial year.

The groups involved, all of whom work on a volunteer basis, already fear that cuts will affect their operations on a day-to-day basis.

And even NLC’s Chief Executive Gavin Whitefield has admitted: “I recognise that some of the options are extremely unpalatable but we have a duty to balance our budget.

“There will be a full public consultation ahead of any decision by elected members and I would urge everyone to have their say when the consultation period begins in October. All options will be available on the council website and we are preparing a small booklet for distribution through our First Stop Shops, libraries and other buildings,” he added.

However, CCF forum chairman Billy Lees said that news of further cuts was another body blow for a town, which in his view has suffered enough.

He said: “There have been so many disappointments – with the cuts to our x-ray units, treatment rooms. And we have also had council rises on hiring halls and rooms in council property. The only people who suffer here are the voluntary groups.

“I am not opposed to these sort of exercises like roadshows because I have seen a lot of good come out of them but I feel that this should not just be some sort of talking shop – with the cuts brought in at the end of it.” he added.