Armadale Thistle FC Statistics

Armadale Community Noticeboard

Have you any information about local activities in Armadale?       

For regular interest group meetings, sports facilities, etc, see the Clubs page

updated 3 July 2009

Please e-mail Rosie

This page is only as reliable as the information it receives.

On this page:

• CELEBRATIONS and THANKS

• ANNOUNCEMENTS / HELP NEEDED: Recycling; Matters of Local Interest.

• CONTACT THE DALE: Friends and Family

• EVENTS and MEETINGS CALENDAR

• LOCAL AREA ISSUES: Armadale Statistics; Youth; Transport and Communications; Regeneration and Town Centre Management: 2006, 2007, 2008

• LOOKING FOR WORK ?

Armadale and Blackridge Local Area Committee

(with Link to Armadale news)

Local Area Committee Members:

Councillor Isabel Hutton (Chair)
Councillor Stuart Borrowman
Councillor Jim Dixon

Have you got something to celebrate - why not announce it here?

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KCOS at the Family Fun Day, Howden Park (Livingston) June 2009

CONGRATULATIONS to everyone involved in 2009's successful Crowning Ceremony, Pageant and Parade! 

RESULTS and INDEX to PHOTOS

We shall remember the day of sunshine and showers for the smiling faces and good-natured banter that greeted us wherever we went. 

We wish Molly McDonald, Armadale's Queen of Hearts for 2009 - 2010,  an enjoyable year.

posted 21 May 2009

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An impromptu display in Coia's window to celebrate the local team's success

CONGRATULATIONS to Armadale Sports Club's under-15s' recent success (on May Day bank holiday weekend) in the Southport Super Cup where they won the Fair Play award for their good conduct after losing 2-0 to Bournville Boys Club in the final.

See also CONTACT THE DALE

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Recycling Calendar Information

Armadale Supermarket / Retail Developments

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"Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to swim we go!"

Armadale Swimming Pool News

New swimming lessons for children now available starting from week beginning 15th June 2009.  Phone and book now to guarantee your child a space!  Xcite Armadale 01501 678520

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• U & Me Play: Baby & Toddler group, Mayfield Community House, Mondays, 1.30pm - 3pm
• Drop in Session: Parents and Baby (& Toddler to age 4) group with Health Visitor, Mayfield Community House, Wednesdays, 10.30am - 11.30am
• Armadale community volunteers organise and manage the Dale Food Group where fresh fruit and vegetables are sold at really competitive prices. You can find them in Armadale Church Hall every Tuesday 10am - 11.30am and in Mayfield Community House, 198 Mayfield Drive, every Thursday 10am -12 noon. Info: 01501 733248. See also: Why a Food Co-op?
• Want more information about Development Opportunities for Mayfield & the Programme of
  Mayfield Community House? Isobel on 01501 733248 (Community Development Worker

If you lived in Armadale in the past and would like to share your memories of those days, or if you would like to contact old friends and neighbours, why not e-mail Rosie ?

EVENTS and MEETINGS  CALENDAR For other regular interest group meetings, see the Clubs page.

2009

International Year of Astronomy

2

Links have also been included to events of national or international interest.  If you know of an event that would interest our readers, please e-mail Rosie

• Homecoming Scotland 2009
• Details of special Armadale Homecoming 2009 events
• Interested in outdoor events in West Lothian?  Why not check the Outdoor Diary?
• West Lothian Community Arts and Entertainment April - August 2009
• For Councillor's Surgeries: Councillor Isabel Hutton;  Councillor Jim Dixon; Councillor Stuart Borrowman

2010

Many thanks to Jean Duncan and the members of the former Methodist Church Haven Club who have donated a substantial sum towards the costs of the 100th Gala in 2010.

• The Ward (Armadale, Blackridge, Torphichen, Westfield) has approx 2,750 children (approx 900 under five years).  There are about 350 lone parents in the Ward.  Armadale accounts for about 80% of the Ward.  285 local under-five-year-olds regularly attend local nurseries; 260  local children live with parents who receive professional help re drugs/alcohol;
• about 850 local people receive Incapacity benefit;
• 40% of local houses are in tax band A (West Lothian: 25%); an estimate indicates that Armadale residents are to pay about £5.5 million in 2009/10 council tax (excluding water charges);
• Mayfield is the most deprived area in West Lothian and is the only local data zone in the 5% most deprived areas in Scotland.

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Youth issues feature as a priority on Armadale and Blackridge Local Area Committee's programme of work and Councillor Jim Dixon is the link between the youth group and the LAC. Posted January 2009

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• Eastertoun Primary School: You may be interested to read the latest HMI report summary  2009 Report NEW
• Have you visited the new Armadale Primary  Parent Council webpage yet?
• Armadale Academy's School and Community Links Organisation, consisting of pupils, staff and parents, has declared its aim: to bridge the gap between school and the community.  More information: 01501 730601
• St Anthony's Primary School in Armadale are delighted to have formed a new Community Group with parents and staff to have frequent meetings to discuss operational procedures and fundraising to raise awareness within the Armadale Community. The group are also very keen to make use of existing skills and talents on offer from members of the parent body. This we hope will make the Community group a success.

The Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link

Current Developments of 2006 - 2010 Airdrie-Bathgate Railway Plans

For a copy of the newsletter, please visit www.airdriebathgateraillink.co.uk or email: info@airdriebathgateraillink.co.uk

National Helpline for enquiries (open 24 hours a day, every day of the year): 08457 114141

Up-to-date passenger information about possible disruption caused by work on the Rail Link: 08457 484950

Railscot Photos of the Bathgate area

Railscot Homepage

BASIC INFO: 

Graeme Elliott of Network Rail reported to the Armadale and Blackridge Local Area Committee on 29 January 2009 that by October 2008 Network Rail had laid 9.5 miles of track, installed 17 sets of points, demolished and/or rebuilt 11 bridges, installed and commissioned 40 signals, built two new station platforms at Livingston North and Uphall and installed 75 electrification stanchion
foundations. At the time of the meeting, current activity included the electrification of the existing Haymarket to Bathgate track and devegetation and mining remediation work on the closed line section between Bathgate and Drumgelloch. He anticipated that, from February 2009, the main civil engineering work between Bathgate and Drumgelloch, including track bed, new station and cycle path works, would start. The construction of the new Bathgate and Armadale Stations and a Light Maintenance Depot would also begin at this time. Following those works, from January 2010, the closed line section would have track laid and would then be electrified. The Airdrie to Drumgelloch section would also be upgraded during this phase.

• February - March 2009: The devegetation of the track between Bathgate and Drumgelloch is currently underway.

• Preliminary work is starting on Armadale Station.

• The Armadale-Whitburn road will be closed for a fortnight during the summer as a result of the laying of a gas pipeline.

• Want to see work being done on the Edinburgh - Bathgate line in summer 2008?  Here's a link to 2 ½ minutes of time-lapse photography.

• If you're a member of facebook, why not look at the photos of the The Airdrie Bathgate Rail Link group?

25 minute round trip.  Monday - Friday.  Adult fare: £1; Child fare: 50p. Easy Access

North Street 8.55am > Drove Road / Shaw Avenue 8.58 am > Armadale Library 9.02am > South Street 9.05am > Bathville Cross 9.08am > Morgan Way / McAffee Gardens 9.10am > Lower Bathville / Morgan Way 9.12 am > Gracie's Wynd 9.13am > Church Place 9.16am> East Main Street 9.17am> North Street 9.20am

Then every 30 minutes until 14.55pm  North Street, arriving back at North Street 15.20pm

It will not run 25 and 26 December and 1 and 2 January (or any substitute holiday in December and January)

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Platform Blackridge: Victory for People Power

The Rocky Road to Success!

• 27 May 2009: West Lothian Council announced that Planning Consent was granted for Blackridge Station and the last parcel of land needed for the Station was secured.

• 23 January 2009: Manor Lane (who had agreed in principle to contribute to the station costs) went into Administration today.  Alternative funding is now being sought.

• 14 October 2008 Statement: 'After a campaign of almost three years, Platform Blackridge is delighted to confirm that Blackridge station will go ahead.  Earlier this month, the government achieved a resolution of issues with Network Rail over the use of savings elsewhere on the line.  On Monday 13 October, Manorlane confirmed that this week they will sign the developer contributions package towards the costs of the station.  With these two steps forward, the tests set by the Transport Minister after the election have now been met and commitment will be confirmed.  West Lothian Council has the powers now to approve a planning application for the station itself and to acquire a small strip of land needed on the south side of the line.  Platform Blackridge Convener Stuart Borrowman said, “Our group is delighted to have succeeded and I thank all those villagers – led by the community council - who simply wouldn’t accept being excluded from the original proposal. Their persistence is what has made the difference. I’d also like to thank officials who have worked on this and those (the overwhelming majority) of elected politicians of all parties and of none who have supported us.”   Manorlane / Blackridge Station

• 30th April 2008: The Council’s Development Control Committee voted to approve the application by Manorlane at Westrigg.
  The officers’ report recommended approval for 462 houses (but no more than 210 to be built before the schools are extended). The proposal includes 47 retirement flats and two shop units.  The application includes an access road and parking for the station but not the station itself. That would be the subject of a separate application, possible by Network Rail.  The developer contributions are worth £2m in cash and kind to the estimated total station cost of £3.5m+. The developer is also contributing to the school refurbishment and affordable housing.

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The old station, Armadale

GREETINGS FROM JEAN HARDIE née McGILLIVRAY !" I am Jean McGillivray and love to read over the Armadale website but know very few people as we arrived at the station in 1936 and left eight years later to go to Linlithgow. One name I recognise is Charlie Colquhoun. We went to the first year at the Lindsay High in 1939 and he used to pick up the papers at the station. School friends I remember are Helen Munro, Chrissie Baird and Nancy McIntyre who is in Toronto. I now live in Winnipeg, Canada and have been here since 1951. I would be happy to hear from anyone who remembers me."  If you would like to contact Jean, email:  arjay208mts.net  Posting amended 9 April 2009

Charles Colquhoun remembered a big black spider when I told him that Jean had been in touch. I asked Jean and she told me, "Yes, I remember the big black spider in the hand of bananas being unloaded and the porter asking for a jar to put it in and I took it to school. Don't know if it was poisonous or not!  I remember going to the Institute to the learners dancing led by "Wee Sanny Gorman" I love dancing but at 81 I am not out the same."  Does anyone else remember the spider?  What about Wee Sanny Gorman's dancing classes?  Why not e-mail Rosie with your memories? Posted 12 February 2009

Interestingly, we have also heard from Alex Hogg who told us, "When I worked there the Station master had to move out of the house which was upstairs due to dry rot and we got involved in helping to bring the ceiling and the walls down (not ideal for office working).  The Station master when I left was a Mr. Prosser, and as the station house was deemed to be uninhabitable we (the staff) helped move him to a house down at Bathville Cross that the Railway bought for his use. The goods yard behind the signal box was at that time used mainly for local coal merchants but included Banana vans for Marshall the fruiterer and I think it was Russell's. On occasions we were entertained by rather big banana spiders which had stowed away with the fruit. I remember the men catching two and put them together but there was a fight to the death. At that time the line was still in use with coal trains to/from Westcraigs and to Ravenscraig, why I didn't turn the camera on to them I simply don't know. There was also a signal cabin down the line to Bathgate I think it was called Bogside which came under the Armadale Station master." Posted 13 February 2009

As part of the study of Armadale Town Centre in preparation for its Town Centre Design Guide, a public exhibition was staged in South Street car park on Saturday 9 May 2009.  At this early stage of the project, the organisers are hoping to record the views of residents and visitors about the key issues and priorities for the town centre. Look out for the questionnaires available around town in which you can give your opinion about Armadale.

West Lothian Council has announced that there will be £413,000 available for improvements to traditional town centres in Armadale, Bathgate, Broxburn/Uphall, Linlithgow and Whitburn.  It is understood that each town centre will have a £50,000 allocation for developing local projects with the balance (£163,000) being allocated via a competitive bids method.

The deadline for the development of funding bids by town centre groups is the end of May.

Council Leader Peter Johnston commented, "Whilst some towns may gain in the short-term, a significant amount of funding is available in the coming years, and we are determined to provide equal opportunities for all towns to secure funding for local improvements."  Armadale is one of the towns now preparing a public realm design guide to be forwarded to the Council Executive this summer
 

BEST BAR NONE LICENSING SCHEME

• Armadale has become the first town in West Lothian to have all its public houses sign up for the Best Bar None Licensing Scheme.
• "This will protect people when they come here to drink," said Armadale's Police Inspector Stephen Elliot.
   
• The ‘Best Bar None’ Accreditation and Awards Scheme has been running in Scotland for over two years.
• It concentrates on public safety and customer care. Each venue that joins the Scheme has an opportunity to demonstrate its concern for important issues such as: prevention of crime and disorder; public safety; prevention of public nuisance; protection of children from harm.  
• Participation in the Scheme will set minimum standards and encourage best practice whilst also reducing crime and the fear of crime in and around licensed premises.
• Trained staff from West Lothian Police and West Lothian Council will assess premises on their ability to promote the licensing objectives (described earlier) and their performance on a range of safety issues, such as effective staff training and whether there is a planned exit strategy in the event of an emergency.
• Those premises that achieve the basic Best Bar None Accreditation will receive a plaque to display outside their premises, and those that achieve a high standard of operation may become the Best Bar None Award Winner in their particular category.
• From a business point of view, the Scheme helps to promote the night-time economy in West Lothian with the aim of making it a safer place to live, work, visit and socialise.
• The Scheme is part of a wider strategy to reduce violent crime associated with alcohol abuse.

Posted 3 February 2009

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Woodend Wind Farm Turbine Project: Environmental Report.  Please note that some pages may take a little time to download.

Updated 17 April 2009

Armadale Primary School opened a new nursery classroom, which is designed to provide more much-needed places at the popular school.  The classroom, which cost £250,000 to create in a former storage area, will provide a new learning environment.

At the Armadale Community Education Association AGM on the 28 May, it was announced that Armadale is to have a new library at Armadale Community Centre.  Community consultations have now closed.

Autumn 2008: COMMUNITY CENTRE News

The Centre will be closed from early 2009 for refurbishment and to enable a new extension to be built at the front of the Centre to house Armadale's Library.  We understand that the new library's floor space will be doubled and that there will still be some sort of museum / display area, which will be essential with the current rise in interest in Armadale and its history.  It is planned that the library will have to share a learning centre with the Community Centre.

2008 update: Armadale, Bathgate, Broxburn/Uphall, Linlithgow and Whitburn will share a budget fund of £526,000 for 2008/9.  This is the first stage of a ten-year funding programme where £5 million pounds will be invested in the improvement of traditional town centres in West Lothian.

Initial improvements being funded in Armadale will include improvements to the appearance of West Main Street and improvements to South Street car park.

November 2008:  Bathville Cross is receiving much-needed Council scrutiny.  Run-down buildings, a burnt-out shop on the former Co-op site, and an empty building plot, formerly the Bathville Inn site, are some of the elements that spoil the Bathville environment.  Consultation is now in progress and the opinions and ideas of local people are welcomed by the Local Area Committee.

The site of Bathville Inn,  demolished after a fire in 2006

Armadale and Blackridge Local Area Committee November 2008 update: New powers include: traffic calming measures; parking restrictions; street naming; town centre improvements; anti-social under-age drinking initiatives; Christmas decorations; local planning matters and Christmas treats.

Locality planning lead officer, Ann Gee and locality planning officer, Willie Carruthers

Local Area Committee Members:

Councillor Isabel Hutton (Chair)
Councillor Stuart Borrowman
Councillor Jim Dixon

Community Planning and Regeneration Annual Report 2007 - 2008

September 2007: Armadale, Bathgate, Broxburn/Uphall, Linlithgow, Whitburn are to receive a share of £250,000 for improvement projects.  Each town will receive £25,000 and the rest of the money will be allocated subject to the assessed priorities of the towns, communicated by their councils, based on the recommendations of Local Area Committees (of elected members) and local groups, who in turn will be expected to reflect local views.

Action Plan for Traditional Town Centres - Armadale Planning Consultation was conducted until 31 October 2007.

2006

Happiness - is a place called West Lothian. West Lothian has been voted the happiest place to stay in
Scotland and the third happiest in Britain. The research was carried out by teams from the Universities of
Sheffield and Manchester, using data from the British Household Panel Survey.

Details of survey and full list

Looking for Work?

Employment Advisers are in the Armadale area now to offer FREE advice on getting back into work.

Call us free on: 0800 032 9768

Email us: access2employment@westlothian.gov.uk

Tuesday afternoons

Mayfield Community House
 

Wednesdays 1pm - 4.30pm

currently in St Anthony's Social Club

Fridays 2pm - 4pm

CIS

Advice on childcare, CVs, interview, training