Inside look at West Lothian heritage centre project as work continues
A project that celebrates West Lothian heritage and provides a community hub for the future has been praised by a local councillor.
The transformation of a historic West Calder Co-op bakery into a new national heritage centre will eventually create jobs and new training opportunities in the village.
The rebirth of the iconic building is testament to the work of the local development trust which has raised £6m to drive the community project.
Councillor Susan Manion who heads the Economy Community Empowerment and Wealth Building PDSP visited the Co-op site this week with the council's Community Wealth Building manager Clare Stewart to see the progress.
West Calder and Harburn Community Development Trust (WCHCDT) led project aims to transform the derelict former Co-operative Bakery in West Calder into a hub for local economic development, local community cohesion, resilience, celebration, place making and community wealth building.
The completed centre will be home to a heritage attraction and interactive exhibition on the Co-operative movement in Scotland, as well as spaces for community, training and well-being services, creating 22 new jobs and 150 annual training opportunities targeted at the most disadvantaged.
(Image: West Lothian Council)
West Lothian Council have supported the efforts of the WCHCDT helping them with funding applications as well as continued input from the Museums service to ensure the historic element of the local co-operative movement is full captured including borrowing collections for display in the new centre.
To date funding has been secured to enable the capital and construction phase of the project from the Place Based Investment Funding, Regeneration Capital grant funding from Scottish Government, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland, UK Government Community Ownership Fund and a range of smaller trusts and charities. This is underpinned by local windfarm community benefits and a local community share scheme.
With construction now reaching the half-way milestone, the project team invited partners to get a glimpse of progress being made.
West Lothian Council Executive Councillor for Economy, Community Empowerment & Wealth Building, Susan Manion joined West Lothian Council Community Wealth Building Manager Clare Stewart on a tour of the site.
Councillor Manion said: 'The project builds on a proud local history to create a new national attraction with local roots. The area's Co-operative heritage will be a catalyst for improving community well-being, inclusion and opportunity locally and celebrating and sharing the history and future potential of the Co-operative model.
"It's exciting to see it all taking shape and I'm sure the tremendous efforts of WCHCDT and partners will be rewarded with a fantastic venue and destination that will be enjoyed by many.'
Trust Manager Matt Pearce said 'We are delighted to be able to show progress to date. We are well on the way to delivering our vision. The support we have received from West Lothian Council has been and continues to be critical to the project's success. We are now focussed on delivering the exciting exhibition element.'
Matt added: "Key to the Trust is that we, a small community charity have managed to raise nearly £6m towards a truly community led regeneration project based around a locally important heritage.
'We have been very pleased to receive such support from WLC and Scottish Government along with key funders National Lottery Heritage Fund and are now focussed on securing the last elements of funding required to complete the final stages and to make it the best it can be.
'This will be good for our village, good for West Lothian and good for Scotland.'
For more on the Scottish Co-operative Discovery Centre follow the project Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ScottishCooperativeDiscoveryCentre
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