A TOWN which won an unflattering carbuncle award has been named the "best small city in Scotland".

A TOWN which won an unflattering carbuncle award has been named the "best small city in Scotland".

Beautiful Scotland have dished out the top environmental award to Coatbridge after judges visited towns across Scotland and scrutinised their community efforts for the annual competition.

They praised the Lanark-shire town for its green spaces, singling out one its most popular attractions, Drumpellier Country Park.

Coatbridge won a silver medal in the contest plus the title of "best small city in Scotland" for its efforts.

The honour comes two years after Coatbridge picked up a carbuncle award in a hat-trick of black marks for North Lanarkshire, which has also picked up unflattering architecture prizes for Cumber-nauld and Airdrie.

Council chiefs yesterday said they were delighted with the more positive title.

Entrants in the Scotland-wide competition, which this year received 71 entries, vied for prestigious trophies in 12 different categories, based on electoral roll and population, and ranging from small hamlets to larger cities.

There were also additional prizes for outstanding effort in specific environmental areas, such as biodiversity, waste and tourism.

Beautiful Scotland judges said: "Coatbridge showed a plethora of green spaces, the obvious jewel being Drumpellier Country Park.

"The local initiatives being carried out in conjunction with North Lanarkshire Council showed a level of local and higher level consultation which together are showing good results."

With a population of around 40,000, Coatbridge has a rich industrial background in mining, iron and steel that is celebrated at the town's Summerlee Industrial Heritage Centre, which reopened last year after a £10m revamp. The Time Capsule leisure centre is also popular with locals and visitors from further afield.

The Beautiful Scotland campaign is open to Scots communities working to improve and enhance their local area. It has been running for more than 40 years and until recently was known as Beautiful Scotland in Bloom.

Judges score communities on seasonal and permanent planting in an area and negative aspects such as litter and graffiti are all taken into consideration. Entrants are also expected to show evidence of activity to enhance the community throughout the seasons.

North Lanarkshire scooped a total of 19 awards in the competition.

Kilsyth took the best newcomer title and won a silver gilt medal for its "high standard of entry".

Coatbridge, Motherwell, Airdrie, Cumbernauld and Banton all celebrated silver medal wins with entries that met most of the judging criteria.

Bronze medals went to Croy, Gartcosh, Plains, Shotts, Bellshill, Caldercruix, Condorrat, Cumbernauld Village and Glenboig.

The group responsible for the Craigneuk Allotments in Airdrie took home a special endeavour award.

Coatbridge councillor Tom Maginnis, pointed to Drumpellier Country Park, the Time Capsule and Summerlee Heritage Centre as examples of the town's key visitor attractions.

He said: "I'm absolutely delighted we've won the best small city title. I've been telling people about Coatbridge for 60 years.

"It's marvellous, especially when you consider that less than two years ago it won carbuncle award from Prospect architectural magazine.

"The facilities in Coatbridge are second to none and a lot of effort from local people has helped win this award."

Councillor Helen McKenna, convener of the council's environmental services committee said: "Everyone who was involved with this competition is delighted with the result - and rightly so.

"It's an outstanding achievement to come home with 19 awards, and I congratulate everyone who put in the time and effort needed to make this campaign so successful.

"The judges even had positive comments for the few places that didn't win an award this year, and they are confident that in years to come those areas will be collecting medals along with their neighbours.

"I'm really looking forward to the 2010 campaign. I know we're going to keep building on the great job done by this year's contestants, and keep showing everyone out there that North Lanarkshire really is beautiful."

Assessors from Beautiful Scotland visited communities during a national judging tour last month aimed at discovering the cleanest, most sustainable and most beautiful communities in Scotland.

The honours follow a year of continuous work by local people in North Lanarkshire who entered for the competition for first time this year.

John Summers, chief executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, hosted the awards ceremony held at the Beach Ballroom in Aberdeen.

He said: "The Beautiful Scotland campaign helps communities develop a sense of pride in, and improve their area, and in the Year of Homecoming it has been more important than ever that Scotland has looked its best.

"I am delighted that so many communities have got involved in Beautiful Scotland this year, and must pay tribute to the hundreds of local people up and down the country who have worked tirelessly in their free time for the benefit of others."

TIMES FILE
Denise Mendell, 28, council worker, Coatbridge: "I like it here. It suits me because I work here and I wouldn't live anywhere else."	Graham Gillis, 39, bank worker, Coatbridge: "I'm amazed Coatbridge has won this award. They have done a lot of work on the town and it has great country parks."	Daniel Cunningham, 79, retired, Coatbridge: "It is nothing like the Coatbridge I was raised in. It has been ruined since the steelworks closed down."

Bernadette Potter, 39, carer, Coatbridge: "I was born and bred here. I am used to it and I wouldn't leave it. The shopping centre is quite nice."

Lisa Kelly, 30, full-time mum, Coatbridge: "I think it's excellent. It has won this award. It's about time. It's a great little place."

Anton Traquair, 16, student, Coatbridge: "It's not the nicest of places. I would encourage people to move out."

From the sun to Summerlee

By Catriona StewartI'M always met with astonished stares when I tell people my family emigrated from Australia to Scotland.

But the jaws tend to fall even further when I say we moved from the sunny, beach-fringed shores of Sydney to... Coatbridge.

As an Aussie seven-year-old used to blue skies and lessons outdoors in the sun, I still remember my first week at primary school in Scotland as a bit of a shock.

It's now nearly 20 years since I moved to Coatbridge and, even although I'm not Lanarkshire born and bred, I'm definitely fond of my adopted home town.

Every area has its downsides and Coatbridge has a lion's share of crime, sectarianism and deprivation.

But we also have a wealth of great leisure and entertainment resources - including the Time Capsule, Summerlee and the Showcase Leisure Park, making it great for families.

I used to love going to Summerlee as a child - and even won a Blue Peter Badge for writing to the programme about how much fun it is.

Drumpellier Country Park is gorgeous on a Sunday afternoon for running, playing with the kids or just feeding the ducks.

And there's plenty of regeneration happening in the area, from social housing revamps to new school campuses and private housing developments.

Not to mention the good humour and friendliness of the town's people.

Coatbridge has a bad reputation, but it's improving in leaps and bounds.

After all, I have dual-citizenship and could move back to Australia any time I like, so Coatbridge must be doing something right to keep me here!