A new community woodland is set to be created on the edge of a West Lothian village.
West Lothian Council’s Executive has backed plans to agree a lease with Rosebery Estates Partnership (REP) for an almost seven acre site next to Bridgend’s primary school and pump track.
The site was originally let by the previous authority, West Lothian District Council, for allotments which have long since fallen into disuse.
Council officers have worked with the Central Scotland Green Action Trust charity to explore plans to revamp the area and bring it back into community use.
This includes a suggested layout for the site, which would include a mix of paths, open ground, broadleaf trees and an apple orchard.
Under the new terms of the lease, the council will be responsible for site clearance, planning of the planting and future maintenance costs of the new woodland.
Officers told a meeting of the Executive that negotiations with owners or garages and a former pigeon loft on site would be undertaken before works start.
Executive councillor for the environment Tom Conn said: “The proposed redevelopment of this site would create a new space for leisure and recreation for Bridgend residents.
“It would be a step forward towards turning this under-utilised site into a real asset for the Bridgend community, which is expected to grow in the near future.”
by Stuart Somerville Local Democracy Reporter
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency. It is funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector (in Edinburgh that is Reach plc (the publisher behind Edinburgh Live and The Daily Record) and used by many qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover news about top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.
