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Announcing LCDT’s Annual General Meeting 2020
Linlithgow Community Development Trust warmly invites members to our Annual General Meeting on Thursday 12th November, 7.30-9pm.
As well as the usual AGM business, election/re-election of Board Directors and presentation of the Annual Accounts, this is a chance to hear from LCDT Board Directors and staff about the past year’s achievements and highlights, and to join the discussion about LCDT’s exciting plans going forward.
- Meeting the challenges of the town’s community development priorities.
- Working together for a Green Recovery in Linlithgow, creating a wonderful place to live, work and visit for years to come.
To register for this online Zoom event please email [email protected].
Community Cake Event – Going Digital
A reminder that our next online Community Cake event is being held on Wednesday 28th of October at 7.30pm via Zoom.
This event will provide a practical guide to using Zoom covering:
- How you can use Zoom to support your group.
- How to use the features available for meetings/AGMs being held online.
- Tips for best practice when holding meetings online.
We would love to hear from any groups who have been using this technology and would happily share their experiences with others. Please also let us know if there is anything specific you would like to cover.
To get in touch, or if you would like to register to join please email [email protected].
Linlithgow & Linlithgow Bridge Community Council Update
An important topic at many Community Council meetings over the past few years has been the future of the old library, toilets, offices and shop at the Vennel. West Lothian Council has prepared Planning Guidance for a proposed development which was discussed at the West Lothian Council Executive on 6th October.
Councillor Tom Conn presented a motion which states “given the time that has elapsed since the public consultation in 2017, Council Executive agrees to expedite any redevelopment of The Vennel area and instructs the Chief Executive to initiate a marketing exercise as part of a ‘Development Opportunity – mixed residential and commercial’ project inviting potential partners to submit offers and details with a closing date of 31st March 2021….officers are also instructed to investigate with local community, voluntary and business groups the appetite for the development of a community/resource hub within the former library building. The aim to develop an innovation centre with flexible space for those home working/working from home providing hot-desking with meeting space where under social distancing guidelines meetings where necessary couldn’t be conducted within residential premises. Use by community groups as a drop-in centre and focal point for joint working.”
This motion was approved by the meeting. The Community Council looks forward to working with West Lothian Council on this ambitious project.
The next meeting of the Community Council will take place on Tuesday 27th October at 7.30pm via Zoom. To register to attend please email [email protected] and confirm you are a Linlithgow resident.
You can stay in touch with the Community Council on Facebook and their website.
Business Spotlight – The Granary
The Granary Café is back open under the new ownership of David Stein, who also runs Cafebar 1807 next door. It was his “favourite café in Linlithgow – with due apologies to my staff at 1807”, so a bit of a no-brainer when it came up for sale!
David and his manager Kieran Conner, who is running the Granary, are sticking to the winning formula created by previous owner Gillian. So they will continue to serve Glen Lyon Coffee, the famous Buddha bowls, baked eggs and homemade cakes. There is also now an enhanced takeaway option available.
The new team of Kieran, Melanie and Lia have worked hard to get the Granary back up and running and are looking forward to welcoming customers back. Kieran has been a customer of the Granary since it opened. He said “Its values were very similar to 1807 – we both believed in good wholesome food cooked well, outstanding drinks, and great customer service. It adds to Linlithgow’s beautiful High Street, and we are proud to be part of the community and create that city café right here.”
Previous owner Gillian thanks her customers for their support over the last three years, and her incredibly hard-working and loyal team. It was with “great sadness” that she had decided to sell the Granary. She has recently given birth to a new baby boy – congratulations to the whole family!
You can read more about the Granary in the latest issue of The Black Bitch Magazine on page 5. Follow the Granary on Facebook and find out more on their website!
Community Spotlight – Linlithgow Sports Club
Linlithgow Sports Club, founded in 1982, provides 3 different sports for all adults and juniors who wish to get involved in Linlithgow and the surrounding area. The Club has Lawn Bowls, 2 Squash courts and 4 outdoor, floodlit Tennis courts.
In March, like most other social and sporting activities, the Clubhouse and all 3 Sports were closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Thankfully the Tennis Section, being an outdoor sport, was allowed to re-open, for singles play only, back in May. Members of the Club trialled the “safe play” procedures and then we opened up for new members.
Helped by the great weather we had back then, as well as the fact that gyms and other indoor and team sports were on hold, the Tennis Section saw a huge sign up of adults and juniors. It was great to see new members having a game alongside regular players. Playing singles was a challenge for lots of our regular members as we mostly play doubles. It tends to be more sociable!
Further easing of restrictions allowed doubles play as the summer went on and we even managed to play our annual Club Championships. Finals day on the 20th September was a great day despite the fact that we couldn’t socialise as much off-court as we usually would.
There are still some restrictions on competitive play, access to the clubhouse and social events, but on the whole, the Tennis Section is up and running. New members are always welcome and should have a look at the website for more information https://linlithgowsportsclub.com/tennis-zone/.
Our Club Coach, Gordon Watson, is currently running junior and adult coaching, all within safe play guidelines, and anyone interested in giving tennis a try should contact him at [email protected] or on 07753 809122.
The Bowls Section have managed to play over the last month or so, but it is now the end of their season. Hopefully when they re-open in April 2021, a more usual playing experience will return and they will be happy to welcome new members. Keep an eye on the website for more information.
The Squash Section has partially opened. Indoor sports face more challenges than outdoor sports so juniors are able to play as are household groups. For more information please email [email protected].
Unfortunately, the clubhouse lounge and bar remain closed. For any other queries please email [email protected].
We end with a massive thanks to Linlithgow Community Development Trust and Linlith-Go-Solar as the Clubhouse was chosen as a local site for phase 2 of the project last year. The Solar Panels were installed in March, just before the lockdown. It’s a privilege to be involved in such a great project!
You can find out more about the Sports Club on their website and you can follow Linlithgow Tennis Club on Facebook.
Latest Covid-19 Guidance
New rules mean that you must not make indoor social visits to other households.
Changes to restrictions for Linlithgow, within Scotland’s Central Belt:
- All licensed pubs and restaurants will have to close, both indoors and outdoors, from 18:00 on Friday 9th until 25th October, although they can still serve takeaways.
- Cafes which do not serve alcohol can stay open until 18:00.
- The existing rules state that a maximum of six people from two households can meet together in hospitality venues, either indoors or outdoors.
- Do not to travel outside Lothian health board area if you do not need to.
Full details are available at: https://www.gov.scot/news/new-moves-to-stop-covid-19-spread.
Scotland is in Phase 3 of the route map for coming out of lockdown.
The current advice from the Scottish Government to stay safe, protect others, save lives is:
- wear a face covering
- avoid crowded places
- clean hands and surfaces regularly
- stay 2m away from other people
- self-isolate and book a test if you have COVID-19 symptoms (new continuous cough, fever or loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste
See what you can and cannot do to help suppress the virus.
Many thanks to everyone who has been so vigilant in following these procedures already. This will help to keep our community safe.