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2 minute read
Town Centre Improvements
Over the next few months, the town centre of Bathgate should witness a series of changes as part of a strategy funded by the Scottish Government to improve the economy of small towns in Scotland.
West Lothian Council received a one off payment of £1.8m, to be allocated to several communities within the council area. Of this, Bathgate was awarded £161,000 for projects within the town ranging in size from £45,000 for Reconnect Regal Theatre to restore its original Art-deco as well as the mechanism used to display posters, to £250.00 to Visit West Lothian for an information stand to be used to highlight to visitors what the county has to offer by way of leisure and tourist related activities.
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In addition funding was also made available to improve existing services in the town, including £39,000 for the Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian to assist their redevelopment of the old Courier offices in King Street to make them more accessible for wheelchair users by the installation of a lift from the ground to the upper floor which can then be set aside for meetings of various groups.
The rest of the funding was made available to organisations in the town whose aims are to make it more appealing both to visitors and local people as well as help to generate more economic growth in Bathgate town centre.
The Community Council plans to install town maps at the Steelyard and outside the Partnership Centre, which will highlight places to visit in Bathgate as well as where to eat and drink. It also plans to publish a series of walking guides around the town and a series of leaflets highlighting several aspects of Bathgate’s past. Meanwhile, Enterprising Bathgate is to construct several arches at the entrances of the town’s vennels as well as Welcome signs at the four entrances to the town and street signs which are unique to a certain area in the town. If funds allow, they also intend to set up a series of blue plaques highlighting buildings of historic or architectural interest. The town’s Rotary Club is to buy market stalls to encourage an open air market operating from the Steelyard. In addition they are also to install a sign similar to that which is to be found installed by their sister organisations in Linlithgow and North Berwick. Finally, the Town Centre Management Group is to install a series of tree lights at the trees that circle The Steelyard to make the centre more welcoming on these dark Winter evenings!
All in all, these projects are a step in the right direction for the town in its continuing drive “to make life better for all those who live here” which, after all, is the town’s motto.
This article was contributed by David W. Main of Bathgate Community Council.