Recently I found myself spending a large part of two weeks working in Cumbernauld. Nothing very exciting; I was there as an extra pair of hands to help out at the newly-opened Woolworths store. (This, incidentally, explains why I have been a bit quiet here for the past couple of weeks.)
Cumbernauld is probably famous for two things (excluding Gregory’s Girl). The first is its slogan. How many towns boast such a well-known slogan? “What’s it called? Cumbernauld.”
Unfortunately, the town is also famous for the fact that it is utterly undeserving of the slogan. It won the Carbuncle Award (awarded to the bleakest town in Scotland) in 2001 and 2005. And a couple of years back producers on the Channel 4 programme Demolition were inundated with requests to demolish the entire town.
The new Woolworths is part of a new shopping centre which has been built in a belated attempt to restore the town’s “carbuncle” image. The locals seem pretty excited to finally have some decent shops again. Once the units fill up, the new Antonine Centre has the potential to work fairly well.
The new shopping centre contains a couple of murals which seem to be an attempt to big up the town. One has “comar-nan-allt” (the Gaelic origin of the town’s name) proudly written in Celtic-style writing. On the opposite wall is a celebration of Cumbernauld’s 50th anniversary. Yet, sadly, civic pride is not very high in Cumbernauld.
It is not difficult to see why. On my occasional wanders around during my lunch, I felt as though I was in a promising world while I was within the confines of the Antonine Centre. But as soon as I left, I entered a bleak world which hasn’t been touched since the 1960s.
Cumbernauld Shopping Centre, which is joined onto the new Antonine Centre, is the famous “rabbit warren on stilts”. But while it looks mildly offensive on the outside, it is downright depressing on the inside. The place is dimly lit, with dirty and drab décor.
The only real big name shops left there are Argos and Boots — and Boots is due to move to the Antonine Centre in a year anyway (they wanted to move straight away, but apparently messed up the lease!). The rest is just full of independent pound shops and amusement arcades — much the sort of thing you would find in an “indoor market” type environment. Hardly the stuff of a world-beating town centre. You would never guess that Cumbernauld was Scotland’s eighth-largest town.
What little I saw of the rest of the town was pretty much as I had expected. I had visited Cumbernauld before, but I could not remember any details about it. But my time there this time around has confirmed my general suspicion that Cumbernauld is not unlike Glenrothes really. Of course it is nothing special — but you never see Glenrothes being awarded a “Plook on a Plinth”, do you?
Here is the thing that has confused me greatly about Cumbernauld, though. It is a really boring town. Most think it is downright ugly. So why did they spend so much money advertising it on the television?
All Cumbernauld had was an ugly indoor shopping centre that had made a bad name for itself. While the indoor shopping centre might have been a new and exciting idea fifty years ago, today it would be strange if a town didn’t have one.
Did they really think that people would flock to Cumbernauld as a tourist destination, or a place to set up a small business? All it really had to its name was this drab, anonymous shopping centre — the likes of which you would find in just about any town in the country — and a lot of roundabouts.
I am a bit too young to remember any of the famous adverts well enough. I might be wrong about this, but I seem to recollect one that contained a badly-animated monster (presumably supposed to be Nessie) swimming along while a voice-over parroted the catchphrase.
Can anybody confirm this? If it was real, and not just something I imagined, it seems to sum up the level of realism that Cumbernauld’s officials possessed. Why use Nessie to represent a town that is scores of miles away from Loch Ness? And actually, why bother advertising in the first place?
A search on YouTube has proved fruitless. I cannot find any of the famous adverts for Cumbernauld. Instead, what comes up is video after video of people pointing out how bleak their town is. Ironically and self-deprecatingly, the videos feature the “What’s it called?” catchphrase. The optimistic meaning of the catchphrase has disappeared without a trace.
The overriding impression I have of Cumbernauld is that it is a town that was plonked up there in the 1950s and 1960s amid great optimism. But this optimism bred complacency which led to the town remaining pretty much untouched since then.
In short, practically every building there looks like it has been untouched since the 1960s. Given the backlash against modernist and brutalist architecture which has taken place since then, it should not be surprising that the place should be seen as depressing. I thought Cumbernauld Shopping Centre could have been improved a great deal if it was just given a good lick of brightly-coloured paint.
Yet, any attempts there might have been to rejuvenate the town were seemingly half-hearted and invisible. This is how Cumbernauld ended up being a town with a large population, above-average income, below-average unemployment and yet no decent shops.
Above I said that civic pride ran low in Cumbernauld. That is probably not quite true. I think residents of Cumbernauld would love to love their town, but can’t.
They were let down by Cumbernauld’s local officials and politicians, who buried their heads in the sand. Any criticism of the town was batted away (you can see this on the BBC News articles I linked to above). Seemingly, they hoped that if they just claimed often enough that Cumbernauld was a great town then people would start to actually believe it.
Of course, they never did. And by promoting the town so much, they seemingly created a rod for their own back. It generated false expectations that were surely never going to be reached. This is how Cumbernauld can be awarded the Plook on a Plinth while somewhere like Glenrothes can carry on anonymously.
So Cumbernauld’s officials eventually capitulated and the new Antonine Shopping Centre was built. It remains to be seen if it will be a success. Clearly, residents are very excited about having shops like Woolworths, Next and TK Maxx on their doorstep. It was obvious from my time there that Cumbernauld was just screaming out for this to happen.
And even though the shopping centre’s units are still mostly empty, what shops are there are very busy (with the sad exception of Dunnes, who paid off a lot of their staff just a couple of weeks after opening). But obviously this is due to the initial excitement and will eventually die down. So it’s difficult to tell whether or not the Antonine Centre will be a success or a failure.
Some say that it is too little too late. They are probably right, in at least one sense. A new shopping centre is hardly enough to resuscitate such a terminally ill town. The YouTube video that I embedded above was posted less than two months ago, when the Antonine Centre had almost opened.
Cumbernauld might now get some nice shops. But it is fair to say that it will never be the great tourism and business centre that officials and residents alike seemed to believe it would be.
duncan2
25 June 2007 19:45
#1
those photos of the new shopping centre aren’t very inspiring, looking pretty bleak in themself. The 50th birthday ‘mural’ is awful. how long do you suppose that pavement cafe will survive?
on another Nessie-related note, I was confused this weekend to find the Loch Ness Discovery Centre, on the High St in Edinburgh, with ‘Welcome to Loch Ness’ above the door.
doctorvee » Flopp
29 June 2007 01:30
#2
[...] first smelled a rat about Fopp’s financial security last week while I was working in Cumbernauld. The Woolworths there has a Fopp directly opposite, and I noticed one night that it closed earlier [...]
jessica
3 August 2007 18:03
#3
hiya, i found your blog by searching for cumbernauld. i visited the new antonine centre since it opened, twice properly, and while i still don’t completely understand how the placing a new linear shopping centre (the future success!) right next to the old linear shopping centre (the past failure!) will save the town (just more of the same really), the pavement cafe is very busy! always! and with queues! even if the dimly lit and mildly depressing tk max and vacant shop fronts (just like the old town centre!) aren’t.
Demolition Man
7 August 2007 23:16
#4
Well Done on a great write up!
I can`t think of nothing but to praise you on your words, I couldn`t help nodding away as i read this blog, I must thank you for using the video i made also……
Personally I do agree with the fact that the anntonine centre does NOT fix the fact that it has an old shabby town centre next to it which in my honest opinion will now die of death even more now that this nice new one has been made beside it.
The best thing about the old town centre is that fruit and veg stall……..hmm nice fresh stuff there i`ll tell ya!
So why do you think i made such a video?
well it was to place emphasis on the fact that, yes! this place is going downhill fast!
The old town centre is such highly contrasted in comparison to the new one, politicians and experts have all been involved in hours of talks apparently after this demolition programme, the problem has not been faced head on, instead they have opted to build yet another town centre and leave the other to rot? ironic!!!
vicky houston
28 September 2007 15:55
#5
Really interested to read your balanced views as a visitor to Cumbernauld. I have lived here( Cumbernauld ) for 33 years(all my life) with a few breaks and am totally dismayed by the progress of the town. The town in general suffers from low esteem. When you tell people you live in Cumbernauld you quite often get a remark about the carbuncle, the concrete or a musing about why you would choose to live here. In fact there is quite a strong community spirit in Cumbernauld but we have been let down time and again by politicians and planners. I would like to draw to the attention of anybody interested ,in particular demolition man, that there is a meeting in cumbernauld primary school on eastfield road on Tuesday 2nd october at 7.30pm about the local plan for cumbernauld for the next 10 years. We cannot trust the planners or politicians to act in the communities best interests. The more people who can come and contribute to this consultation process the better.
Alan Robinson
4 January 2008 06:24
#6
The first time I came to visit Cumbernauld, (before GPS, in-car satellite navigation and mobile phones), I ended up in Cumbernauld village, only a couple of miles from my destination.
It has a few good pubs and eating places, and is still going strong (since Roman times) despite the lack of a shopping centre.
When I managed to find South Carbrain, I was impressed by the location, the train station and bus stop are a short walk away, as is the park. The house was quite impressive too, five floored split-tiered.
Most of the housing was Council built, a lot of it is now privately owned. Only a couple of local shops and a filling station in the vicinity, though the town centre is only a 15 minute walk, uphill, a bit faster coming back.
I moved to Cumbernauld over a decade ago, married, and am very happy to be here. The town centre shopping mall (linear!) was looking a bit shabby then, though ASDA was doing brisk business (still is).
A few years ago, Tesco opened an emporium, about a mile from ASDA, they managed to complete this in a short time, compared to the years it had taken for part of the old shopping centre to be demolished.
Both ASDA and Tesco are thriving, as an aside, the wife reckons ASDA is cheaper shopping, the proximity also keeps the cost of fuel keen.
The addition of the Antonine Centre has added more variety for local shoppers to choose from, and seems to be doing quite well. Before Christmas, the wife, mother and sister managed to take 9 hours shopping between the Antonine Centre, ASDA and Tesco’s, most of this time was in the Antonine Centre, fortunately I was at work at the time.
The old shopping centre is still limping on, with quite a few “pound shops” and “charity shops”. It would be king to put it out of it’s misery, but, as far as I understand it, this is a listed building (not sure about the part that was demolished).
The strange thing is, the car parks for the old shopping centre, Asda’s, Tesco’s and the Antonine Centre always seem to be full during regular shopping hours. Where do all the extra shoppers come from?
I would like to see more facilities for the locals, community centres, youth groups, play groups and the like.
From what I have seen, local communities lack cohesion, this is a nationwide problem, not just Cumbernauld. It’s been a few decades since I remember being amng people that “pulled together”.
There is a drug problem in Cumbernauld, this seems to be endemic, but the police have made a reduction in the problem.
There is a lot to be done for the local communities. A few, true, leaders are needed. The local government isn’t serving the people’s needs, another round of committee meetings wont do it.
I wish I had a simple solution, there isn’t one that I can see. I think a good start would be educating young families, and youngsters about respect.
All in all, I like Cumbernauld, it’s a good place to live. The town isn’t going down the plug-hole, it will become established, takes time though.
doctorvee
4 January 2008 13:00
#7
Thanks for the comments everyone.
I find it interesting that the original Cumbernauld Shopping Centre is a listed building. I suppose as it is the UK’s first indoor shopping centre it does have some historical significance!
missyq
15 March 2008 18:04
#8
Hi there
I was born in cumbernauld, and although the old town centre is bad, there are still some nice places in Cumbernauld and I have fond memories of growing up there. The advert that I remember at the time was a little spotty dog running up a hill (cumbernauld is built on a hill) and then the slogan whats it called ……………..
Can’t remember nessy?????
Joiner#1
17 March 2008 05:59
#9
I found drvees comments very well thought out and true. I was brought up in Cumbernauld (Abronhill) and my family were one of the first in our street in the early seventies. I have lived abroad now for over 10 years and often return to visit family and friends. The first time I returned I can remember the depression on a lot of peoples faces when I was walking round the old town centre and how they looked grey (possibly blending in with the surroundings!) even individuals who recognised me stopped to tell me how crap their lives were and eager to share their problems without any regard for possible solutions, this kind of summed up the town for me, and like a few previous posts can sense the culture of lethargy and bleakness that is strong in Cumbernauld. Hence various attempts at community and places of entertainment have collapsed ‘ice rink, ten pin bowling, cinema’ to name but a few. I feel that the original design concept of the town has been where the fault started as it seems to have been designed in an anti -social manner where the less interaction with neighbours the better. From the flats to the schemes even the infra structure of the roads and with no decent safe paths to walk contribute to this sense of “hidden away” where no hussle and bussle of every day life brings about community spirit, and as for community centres most of what I remember was they were filled with dance classes or badminton and very few youth clubs. The fact that Cumbernauld is so close to Glasgow shouldnt really be a factor as East Kilbride is in a similar position but it seems to work much better as a more desirable place to live. I think if at the start all those years ago if more development was made, mistakes learned from and proper maintenance was carried out Cumbernauld would be a very different place from the town it is today! I heard someone say recently that the best nightlife in Cumbernauld was either Asda or Tesco! Sums it up really doesnt it? As for the advert I seem to remember a group of schoolkids running across a hill then letting balloons go.
Un-known
21 April 2008 16:04
#10
Well unlike many of theses people writing in.I enjoy living in Cumbernauld its not amazing I know and there isn’t much to do but i enjoy it. Even though The shopping centre isn’t amazing either I like being there and many things have happened to me there like missing about 10 busses and my friend starting to cry getting on a condorrat bus then she jumps off :p.I do say that its an amazing place to make memories and because the place i stay doesn’t even a park well a decent park any where near it like jumping about in woods and screaming because we have seen a fox or getting into trouble by older people because we have been playing in bushes and yes there is alot of roundabouts but i guess thats what makes Cumbernauld kind of unique. And yes people might have drug problems and drinking problems but so do many people out side Cumbernauld. And to be honest i DO think its ugly but if the community tried harder and didn’t give up we could get some where with the place! instead of seeing young people (although these people are older than me) hanging about drinking and something that would help with that would be if Shop keeper those of the smaller shops in Cumbernauld actually asking for ID I mean they might look 18 but they might not be. I mean Living in Cumbernauld and being a child not easy but its fun but then again i guess ive just been brought up in the nicer part or Cumbernauld not the Neddy bit
mr smurf
29 December 2009 21:04
#11
many many moons ago far far away ,from Glasgow as a young boy i was wisked away from the tennaments of Glasgow which i loved so much away away to noody town aka Cumbernauld..
the 4 room and kitchen with a toilet down stairs and a bathroom upstairs was pure magic the schools were great the country side was a dream the town centre was the biggest playground a kid could wish for…but the we all grew up and the second generation of kids were born my family stayed but i moved back to glasgow, my family in Cumbernauld are all wonderfull people ,however i sometimes return there to visit and there it is the virgin like
buildings un sprayed and the clean youth that wanted to play as children have now became the influxed timewarped the land that stood still ,,even the music scene is the same the same guys pissing about missing the gravy train of fame , junkie town is it still the rape capital of Scotland due to the underpasses and bus stops being surrounded by bushes and trees. people walk at the side of the roads due to this weird way of cumbernauld land services..
its still got the country side on its door but on youtube when you type cumbernauld all thats there is ned land culture ,,every street has a wee ned ring full of wee pricks thinking there as hard as the gangs in Glasgow??
WHATS GOOD ABOUT CUMBERNAULD??
the chicks there were good lookin but due to the influx of
kfc,mcdonalds,pissa hut and kebaby shops the chicks are no more i heard there all single mums or pregnant??there not there just fat as f,.,k…..
when i was 19 i moved from there and i left behind a world of bands drink and drugs ..lifes great in Glasgow
so come on down..
Mr C
16 January 2010 06:12
#12
With the introduction of the M80/74 extension and the possible electrification of the railway, and possibly some new shops in the antonine centre – I wouldn’t dare write cumbernauld off quite yet
…. after living in Glasgow, Cumbernauld is quiet !
jai
3 April 2010 03:16
#13
yeah cumbernauld is not the best place.however we do have some u.f.os about.and have had for some time.they do put on a very good light show e.c.t.if your in the right space time.the truth Is out there.
Zara
15 May 2010 20:49
#14
I live in Cumbernauld and it’s not as bad as people actually think there is a nice walk to cumbernauld fields which is a short ten minute walk from my house where i take my dog nearly every day and i meet lots of nice people with other dogs too, i also know a few more places such as the little castle down the bottom of cumbernauld fields which is nice to walk around and the town centres are improving bit by bit, little by little or whatever but it is not thatt bad
Chantelle Brennan
18 June 2010 20:35
#15
cumbernauld is amazing and i will never leave it i love it at least its got banter why does everything have too be so clean and posh these days well no cumbernauld isnt posh some parts are but you will find that if you actually looked deep into the heart of cumbernauld it really is the best place i could think and yea maybe we do have some stupid shops but we dnt ask for them we get what we are given and are gratefull and i can bet that the person who made this webpage up lives in a big house where everthings perfect well i have news for you the world isnt a perfect place get used of it and why dont you go somewhere else which is worse and try to fix there town !
cumby critter
29 June 2010 23:05
#16
Quite A good article, with some very important and deserving criticism towards a town that has seen its fair share of strong critique. However, it is not the politicians nor the officials and councillors that get the brunt of this criticism, but the community, and as such it makes matters worse. Cumbernauld was an attempt to radicalise and invent high professional architecture and ground breaking innovative methods to make the people safer, closer and more connected in a large town that offers great green space for living. My website is constructive and fights this criticism, it restores the faith and the pride back in to the community of Cumbernauld, through its rich historical foundations, and if your interested in a wee nosey, I have one of the adverts of the new town on my site for you to watch, cheers, Cumby Critter.