The WAT IF?
Warbler
Woolfords, Auchengray and Tarbrax Improvement Foundation
December 2015
WAT IF? wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Thank you to everyone who has supported and worked with the Trust this year,
we are excited to continue working with all the communities in 2016!
Annual General Meeting— March 2016
The AGM for Woolfords, Auchengray and Tarbrax
Improvement Foundation is scheduled for early
March—look out for more information soon.
Everyone is welcome to attend, voting is open to
members only. If you would like to join the Trust or
submit a nomination form please contact the
Secretary at [email protected] or 01501 785322.
Development Officer
Jemma is now a full employee of the Trust, and is here
to help with any ideas, events or projects in the area.
From January she will be based at Woolfords Village
Hall on a Monday, Tuesday and Friday, and will be at
Tarbrax Village Hall in the committee room on a
Thursday. Please drop in and see her, or contact on
07539430734 or at [email protected].
Grant Schemes
The 2015 Grant Schemes proved successful with a range of small grants being awarded for many different
projects, and the large grant going towards the Auchengray Church Centre Window Restoration.
The details of the 2016 Grant Schemes will be published in early January.
Remember Jemma is there to help with any projects you are working on, and can advise on funding applications.
Winter Gritting Routes
South Lanarkshire Council
The main roads throughout the South Lanarkshire WAT IF? area are classified as 'Precautionary Routes' as
they are the only roads in and out of the villages—these are treated when snow and ice is forecast.
If there are issues on the roads, or if grit bins are empty, the South Lanarkshire Council Customer Service
number is: 0303 123 1015.
West Lothian Council
The roads from West Lothian approaching Woolfords are classified as 'Secondary Routes'. This means they
will gritted on a reactive basis, between normal working hours i.e. 8am - 3pm Monday to Friday. If there are
issues on the roads, the West Lothian Council Customer Service number is: 01506 280000.
With 3 windfarm developments now under construction locally, the www.watif.scot website now has a
‘Windfarm Update’ section to share information on road closures, abnormal loads etc.
Wind turbine delivery for Pearie Law is expected between January and March 2016.
WAT IF? is a registered Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SC043606)
Community Action Plan Updates—December 2015
The 5 themes come from the Community Action Plan which was created based on the response
of the community consultation in 2012/2013. You can see the action plan at: www.watif.scot.
Theme 1: Roads and Transport
The ‘Road Improvement Plan’ was created using feedback from an online survey and a physical
survey of the roads in the area. Out of 3 major issues submitted there will be 2 work
programmes raised (Woolfords approach and Auchengray junction). South Lanarkshire used
their criteria for assessing road safety requests and determined that there was not sufficient
need for road crossing in Woolfords or Auchengray, and there was not a requirement for further
speed limit signage in Polkelly, Auchengray or Tarbrax. South Lanarkshire Council have agreed
to renew the ‘slow’ signage on the approach to Tarbrax.
Following a meeting with West Lothian Council roads department, there is now a crossboundary agreement in place for SLC to grit up to Pates Hill windfarm, which will help to keep the road into West Lothian
clear. WLC cannot provide further winter clearance services above their current level, but for the time of PearieLaw
windfarm being constructed EDF has agreed to do further clearances along the C24 and C28 – this will only be during
weekdays and working hours, not including the Festive break.
The Minibus Trial has not been as successful as hoped, but Saturdays have been more popular than expected. It is under
discussion at the moment wether to continue the trial into 2016 – this will be advertised when a decision has been made on
dates etc.
Theme 2: Green Spaces and Heritage
A path network plan has been created, and two routes have been identified as priority for the next year: Station Way and
Muirhall School Route. The focus on Station Way will allow the Trust to apply for funding from West Lothian, and create
pathway links across county boundaries.
We are still in discussions with wind farm developers at Pearie Law and Harburnhead with a view to create off road pathways
linking through the wind farms into West Lothian – these discussions will continue alongside the negotiations for Community
Benefit.
Theme 3: Village Enhancement and Facilities
The Trust continues to work with all three hall committees to encourage and promote use of the halls.
The Gateway project is still in the research stage, with further input required from SLC to determine location and sizes within
the national guidelines.
Theme 4: Community Activities
The Trust has funded the production of a calendar using the posters created by the Junior Board from Auchengray Primary,
which will be donated to the school to sell for their funds.
A priority for the Easter Holidays is to investigate youth activities in the area, or transport links to activities within local larger
towns.
The land that the council has offered the Trust is not suitable for community growing, and so other parcels of land are being
investigated for creating a community garden – Jemma has met with SLC and is awaiting council ownership details for the
WAT IF? area.
Theme 5: Services and Communications
The WAT IF? area is still listed under the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband rollout as ‘Planned Area’ but with no
timescales listed (see http://www.digitalscotland.org/whereandwhen).
WAT IF? is still working with Community Broadband Scotland and Farrpoint Consultancy to engage with BT – currently the
concept of ‘Build and Benefit’ is the preferred option and we are waiting on confirmation from BT wether they will be using
the WAT IF? area as a trial Build and Benefit area.
WAT IF? is funded through a Community Benefit agreement with Muirhall Windfarm Extension Ltd.
www.muirhallenergy.co.uk
WAT IF? is a registered Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SC043606)