Public support plans for community centre

Oct 9 2008 by Our Correspondent, West Lothian Courier

FURTHER to last week's letter regarding the proposed new community centre for Livingston Station and Deans, I note that there are and never have been any plans to sell off land at the old community centre to developers for housing.

With the proposal for the new £1.2 million community centre to be built further south of the existing one, many options for the land of the old community centre were considered; however, even before suggestions were put to politicians, housing had been explicitly ruled out due to parking constraints.

This explains why the proposed use for the land is for a car park to be built to serve the new community centre.

These facts were stated at the public meeting in the Livingston Station Community Centre on October 10, 2007, yet rumours persist.

I agree that Livingston Station and Deans require a large hall, which is why the proposals feature a hall that is larger than the one in the existing community centre.

Also, the proposals feature the old primary school (current youth centre) being retained as a structure and put to other use.

A majority of those who have currently responded to the recent public consultation on the proposals were in support of the new community facility, and all four ward councillors have also taken this view.

Cllr Robert De Bold (SNP)

Executive Councillor for Environment

West Lothian Council