From the archives

This week in 2004

SEWAGE SMELL: Tenants in Cumbernauld’s Tarbolton Road were furious at a “revolting” odour from a blocked drain outside their flats. They complained it had been making their lives a misery for three weeks, during which time no action had apparently been taken. Resident Kim Purdon said: “It’s really embarrassing having anyone in your house. You have to apologise for the smell,” She said both the council and Scottish Water had sent inspectors, who agreed the smell was outrageous – but who both insisted it was not their responsibility. Scottish Water said it was the responsibility of the owner of the block of flats. Owners Cumbernauld Housing Partnership said the first they had heard of the problem was when they got a message on their answering machine after returning from the Fair Holiday, and that it was surprising that ‘not one’ resident had been in touch before. Inspectors had been sent to see if the problem was coming from a part of the sewer they were responsible for.

This week in 1989

UP IN ARMS: Cumbernauld tenants were up in arms over government proposals to wind up the New Towns without giving people the ability to choose the District Council as their landlord – which opened up the possibility of large swathes of housing being handed over to housing associations, private landlords or charities. Local MP Norman Hogg said: “The proposals are totally unfair to the CDC tenants, and it is abundantly clear that the government do not wish the District Council to be considered as an optional choice of landlord.”

This week in 1984

fox pause: Palacerigg Country Park was getting back to normal after getting the all-clear on rabies. The alert began on the previous week after an Arctic Fox showed signs of having the deadly dangerous disease. Anti-rabies restrictions were imposed, and the fox was put down a vets from the Department of Agriculture took control. However the rabies tests proved negative, and it was discovered the animal – which had been behaving in an unusually approachable way – had been suffering from a form of meningitis. Its death left the park with just two foxes in its enclosure.

This week in 1974

MILK RACE: Sixty of the world’s top cyclists were set to be in action in Cumbernauld when the Scottish Milk Race was due to take place in the town for the first time. Several roads were set to be closed at the weekend to allow the racers to take part in five special circuits of the town.