issue 5
VOLUNTEER AWARDS 3
may - sep ‘17
JENCKS ART PROJECT 13
2 Kirknewton News is a community newspaper, witten by and for local people in Kirknewton. It is produced by Kirknewton Community Development Trust (KCDT), supported by the Big Lottery Scotland. Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the KCDT. If you would like to get involved with the Kirknewton News, please get in touch at infokirknewton@gmail.com WANT TO CONTRIBUTE? Submit articles or letters to the Editor at: infokirknewton@gmail.com or to the Kirknewton Green Room, 12 Main Street, EH27 8AH. Alternatively call 01506 883 988. WANT TO SPONSOR? To sponsor, email: infokirknewton@gmail.com or call 01506 883 988
KCDT is registered with the office of the Scottish Regulator No SC037895
Welcome to the latest issue of the Kirknewton News! Check out the new Kirknewton website at kirknewton.info
Here are the top ten stories you have been following since our last issue - some of which are included in this issue of the Kirknewton News.
Edinburgh Airport Consultation
Rail Barriers
Volunteer Awards 2017 Winterfest events Kirknewton Fireworks Youth and Volunteer Job Flying Fox Fauch Hill Windfarm Debate Virgin Media Expansion Gateway to Kirknewton Village
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kirknewton volunteer awards 2017 photos by Lyndsey Roberton
The Kirknewton Community Development Trust Awards took place on Friday 10th March 2017 at the Dalmahoy Hotel near Kirknewton. Thanks to the Big Lottery Celebrate Fund (who also funded the free Christmas BBQ Burgers and the Kirknewton fireworks) and Virgin Media we were able to say a simple thank you to those who go above and beyond the call of duty to make Kirknewton a great place to live and work. Everyone who was nominated received a certificate with awards, designed by Harmonies in Wood, given throughout the night. We also gave prizes for an overnight stay in the Dalmahoy, a lunch for 4 at the Dalmahoy and a Virgin Media Experience worth £150. Although everyone was given a free raffle ticket we also raised £145 selling additional raffle tickets on the night as well as 10% of the bar sales, which came to £113. Thank you for your donations to community projects. Here are the winners...
VIRGIN MEDIA SPORTS VOLUNTEER Michael Crosbie
CHILDRENS GROUP Amanda Blainey Mini & Me Music Group
Despite being unwell during pregnancy Amanda ensured the Mini & Me Music Group ran every week. Throughout everything she took three weeks off after the birth and returned to the weekly running of the group, including changing the day of the group to support many parents requirements. Mini & Me Music Group brings families closer to their babies, provides foundations for babies and parents to build their life on Thanks to Virgin Media for and allows them to develop sponsoring this award and friendships with others who are in similar situations. the table wine on the night. “My husband and I have two very young children and really struggle to join groups or exercise. Michael invited us to bring our little ones to Box Circuits and then kept them entertained while we had a great time getting fit. He is a huge asset and a wonderful teacher. An unsung hero, down to earth and just one of the nicest guys I know. All his classes are organised, progressive and fun for all.”
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4 COMMUNITY GROUP Tammy Wood Brown Art From The Heart
BUSINESS AWARD Festival Stores Councillor Carl John hands the award of Business of the Year to Ian Watt of Festival Stores. This is in recognition of both the business and the support it gives to volunteer groups throughout the year. COMMITTEE OF THE YEAR Kirknewton Toddler Group Kirknewton Toddler group has been running for a long time supporting Mums, Dads and other carers with young children in the village and beyond. I felt very isolated and was relatively new to Kirknewton and everyone was supportive, friendly and it was a great environment for children to socialise and learn through play. This award goes to the committee past and present
The group meet every fortnight and do some form of art, from painting to crafting. Art from the Heart allows to speak freely and confidentially without any judgement and the improvement in mental health has been amazing. All the members are supportive to each other and help through any difficult times. There is always a warm, friendly atmosphere and plenty of hugs when required. Tammy is always enthusiastic and eager to help people, she brings warmth and fun to the art group that she runs. She always has a smile to brighten your day and always has an
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ear to listen to your woes. The members appreciate the help they have received over the last year and find the group a very safe place to voice any issues and are always guaranteed a laugh by the end of the evening.
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5 YOUNG VOLUNTEEER Rebecca Brien & Sarah Cockburn Rebecca and Sarah help in lots of places in the village, at youth group and big events like the fireworks and at Kosy Kaff for several years, even when undertaking their exams. “Without Rebecca and Sarah we couldn’t keep running Kosy Kaff” RUNNERS UP Hari Kallat & Ross Laing Both have volunteered at LDBC. Working with others who have either a physical or mental handicap can be difficult but both boys are full of enthusiasm and have helped players of a similar age achieve a better standard of better badminton and success in badminton tournaments.
KCDT SPECIAL AWARD Mike Nolan
were providing equipment, games, materials and fund events for the children which the school would otherwise have been unable to fund. Not only did Mike volunteer for years with the PSA he also volunteers his time with the Scouts. He deserves to be recognised as he is one of these gems who quietly work away without complaining and has the good of the community at heart.”
“I am nominating Mike Nolan for the years of Mike was given his award volunteering he has done for by KCDT Director Martin Kirknewton Primary School Hall. initially as a member of the PSA Committee but primarily as the Chairperson of the PSA, a role he held for over 10 years.” “He gave an enormous amount of time and persevered in the years when their were few people on t h e c o m m it t e e . He was so hard working, faithful and dedicated in raising funds and organising events for the school. He said what kept him going was the knowledge that the PSA
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COMMUNITY EVENT Kirknewton Gala The committee organises the Gala Day and the torchlight procession at Christmas time. Always well organised and a great family outing. I’m sure they put a lot of their own time and effort in, and it is much appreciated. The Gala itself is a wonderful opportunity for the village to join together in friendship and co-operation to keep the community spirit alive!
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR in to help organise them. Pip Shiels Pip wasn’t there on the night, so her award was collected by Pip is involved in the Dominique Newman. Previous Gala and Toddler group Volunteer of the Year award committee as well as running winners were also in attendance Friday Bookbugs. This is on including Nikki Thomson top of being a mum. She and Gill Greaves. is a very supportive fellow parent and as an ex health visitor gives great advice to toddler group parents and carers and is a fantastic listener. She does a great deal for Kirknewton community through these three different groups and deserves some recognition for her efforts. She could just sit back and enjoy these family events but instead she gets stuck
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7 LIFETIME ACHIEVMENT AWARD Christina Graham Christina receives the award for her voluntary work with local organisations including Church, Woman’s Institute and Hospice over 30 years or more. Christina has such a lovely yet strong p e r son a l it y and shows clearly her ability to lead. An extremely popular lady, who can have people ‘laughing in the aisles’ full of exuberance, with the energy of a 50 year old. Rev Dr Andre Groenewald gave a fantastic speech on the night and handed out the award to Christina, who received not only her award but a standing
ovation on the night. During the awards we presented Jennifer Ba with flowers for all her work with the Trust over the last three and a half years. Sadly Jennifer is leaving us to go and work as a Development Worker for West Lothian Vo l u n t a r y S e c t o r Gateway. Thanks to Isla Hall flowers for the flowers for Jennifer and on the tables during the night. Thanks also to Marianne Markx for her help in organising the Awards guest list. Hope you all had a great time and hopefully we’ll see you all again in 2019!
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transport police review their parking near rail barriers by Kenny Birch
Confirmation from British Transport Police that they have managed to stop their officers from parking (Mostly camera vans) on the Kirknewton station entrance road – risking pedestrian and vehicle accidents, and potential crossing blockage when cars coming over the crossing cannot get into the station for cars coming out, and parked police vans. Sergeant Ryan Tierney was very helpful in this–having picked the matter up after 2 years of neglect by others. Simon Constable (not a policeman) of Network Rail has managed to do the same for Network Rail vehicles, (and dumped rails etc which have been a hazard to pedestrians on the way into the station). Both NR and BTP have now agreed that parking there is causing an obstruction and avoidable risk. Simon has previously arranged the replacement of some of the double yellow
lines–and some no parking signs. Ryan is looking into the state of and risks associated with, the lack of a footpath, –and the muddy puddle ridden route from the crossing to the platform,– and the extension of the double yellow lines back to the yard gates– where they used to be before the crossing ‘improvements’.
Beware of cars parked on the left but facing out of the station with engines running– they have previously been intent on pursuing late ‘crossing crossers’ down the road–with exiting, oncoming traffic and pedestrians to contend with. This should also have stopped. Thanks to Cllr Dave King, who pursued this via Police If in future you see any Scotland after the earlier lack vehicles (parked between of response from BTP. the marked car parking spaces and the junction at the crossing) then please photograph (worth 1000 words) and report to Network Rail Vehicles:
STOP PRESS!! We’d like to welcome
simon.constable@networkrail.co.uk
(incl contractors vehicles) Transport Police:
Laura Bilton
as our new youth & volunteer officer
ryan.rierney@btp.pnn.police.uk
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airport gets rough ride from communities again…. ℅ 12 Ormiston Farm Steadings ℅ 12 Ormiston FarmKirknewton Steadings Kirknewton ℅ 12 Ormiston Farm Steadings West Lothian West Lothian Kirknewton EH27 8DQ ℅ 12 Ormiston Farm Steadings EH27 8DQ West Lothian 10/4/2017 Kirknewton 10/4/2017 EH27 8DQ West Lothian 10/4/2017 EH27 8DQ
Gordon Dewar Gordon Dewar Chief Executive Chief Executive Gordon Dewar Edinburgh Airports Ltd 10/4/2017 Edinburgh Airports Ltd Chief Executive Gordon Dewar The Airport consultation continues until early May and we urge everyone in Kirknewton Edinburgh Airports Ltd Dear Chief Sir, Executive to have your say at letsgofurther.com. The Kirknewton Community Council are Dear Sir, Edinburgh Airports Ltd objecting and what follows is a copytoofairspace their letter outlining concerns Dearto Sir,the proposals Re: Kirknewton Community Council response consultation
raisedRe: at various meeting with the Council airport. response to airspace consultation Kirknewton Community Dear Sir, Re: Kirknewton Community Council response to airspace consultation Volunteers in local communities have limited time, resources and expertise to respond to Volunteers in local communities have limited time, resources expertise to respond to Re: Kirknewton Community Council response to and airspace consultation proposals from well resourced corporations. Nevertheless Kirknewton Community Council
proposals from wellsignificant resourcedflaws corporations. Kirknewton Community Council Volunteers in local communities have limitedNevertheless time, resources and Airspace expertise to respond to believes there are in Edinburgh Airport Limited’s Change believes there are significant flaws in Edinburgh Airport Limited’s Airspace Change proposals from well resourced corporations. Nevertheless Kirknewton Community Council proposals. At the very least EAL should withdraw the current consultation and start again Volunteers in local communities have limited time, resources and expertise to respond to proposals. At information the very least should withdraw the current consultation and start again believes are significant flaws in Edinburgh Limited’s Airspace Change ensuring that onEAL which decisions areAirport based areKirknewton accurate now in the known proposalsthere from well resourced corporations. Nevertheless Community Council ensuring that information on which decisions are based are accurate now and in the known proposals. At the very least EAL should withdraw the current consultation start future. believes there are significant flaws in Edinburgh Airport Limited’s Airspace Change again future. ensuring that information on which decisions are based are accurate now and in the known proposals. At the very least EAL should withdraw the current consultation and start again future. As an example of this from of your consultation document, Calderwood is in planned to ensuring that information onP43 which decisions are based are accurate now and the known As an example of this from P43 of your consultation document, Calderwood is planned to have 2,800 homes on completion. This represents a population of around 10,000 very close future. have homes on from completion. This represents population of into around 10,000 close Asthe an2,800 example of this P43 of your consultation document, Calderwood is planned to to new A6 Standard Instrument Departure routeabut not taken account by very the change to new Standard Instrument Departure route not taken account by very the change have homes completion. This represents abut population of into around close plans. EastA6 Calder -on population 6,000+ - is presumably included in 10,000 Livingston. As Asthe an2,800 example of this from P43 around of your consultation document, Calderwood is planned toyou plans. East Calder population around 6,000+ is presumably included in Livingston. As you to the new A6 Standard Instrument Departure route but not taken into account by the change will see on the next page, to say flights are further away from this population is factually have 2,800 homes on completion. This represents a population of around 10,000 very close will seenew on A6 the next-page, to sayaround flights are further from this population is by factually plans. East Calder population 6,000+ - is away presumably included in Livingston. As you inaccurate. to the Standard Instrument Departure route but not taken into account the change inaccurate. will seeEast on the next-page, to sayaround flights 6,000+ are further from this population is factually plans. Calder population - is away presumably included in Livingston. As you inaccurate. will see on the next page, to say flights are further away from this population is factually inaccurate.
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In reply to responses from the communities affected, EAL said: In reply to responses from the communities affected, EAL said
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"The route does not fly over Kirknewton, East Calder or Mid Calder "The route but does doespass not fly closer over Kirknewton, East Calder or Mid C than current operations. As we have explained not all towns and thanvillages currenthave operations. been included As we have explained not all towns a in the population matrix." in the population matrix."
In reply to responses from the communities affected, EAL said:
Why were all towns and villages not included in the population matrix? It cannot be "The route does not fly over Kirknewton, East Calder or Mid Calder but does pass closer "The route does not fly over Kirknewton, East Calder or Mid Calder but does pass closer any part of a reasonable than current As we have explained all towns and villages have included than operations. current operations. As wenot have explained not all been towns and villages have been included consultation to discard in the in population matrix." the population matrix." evidence because it does not suit the all proposer’s case. In the Why were towns and Why were all towns and mapnot extract clearly Calderwood villages included in the villages not included in the population It cannot be and the matrix? new developments population matrix? It cannotany be part of Raw a reasonable around Holdings are to discard any part of a reasonable consultation directly overflown. In reply to responses from the communities affected, EAL said:
evidence because it does not consultation to discard suit the proposer’s case. In the evidence because it does not In addition, sound reduces in map extract clearly Calderwood volume withdevelopments the square of the suit the proposer’s case. In and the the new distance. willare map extract clearly Calderwood around RawTurboprops Holdings overfly Calderwood and East overflown. and the new developments directly Calder as low as 2000ft. Today around Raw Holdings are In addition, reduces in they passsound over Livingston directly overflown. volume with the square of the
nearer to 4000ft. Twice the distance equals one quarter of
distance. Turboprops will
overfly Calderwood and East In addition, sound reduces in the volume. So even if the Calder as low as 2000ft. Today volume with the square of the numberover of people overflown is they pass Livingston distance. Turboprops will less, impact ofTwice the noise on nearer to the 4000ft. the overfly Calderwood and East residents of Eastone Calder, distance equals quarter of Calder as low as 2000ft. Today the volume. So even if the Calderwood and Kirknewton is overflown pass over Livingston number likely to be significantly they greater. likelyofto people be significantly greater. is less, the impact of the noise on nearer to 4000ft. Twice the residents of East Calder, But is the number overflown actually lower? But is the number overflown actually lower? distance equals one quarterCalderwood of and Kirknewton is the volume. So even if the likely to be significantly greater. number of people overflown is But is the number overflown actually lower? less, the impact of the noise onIn order to accommodate tripling the residents of East Calder, jet departure rate from onetripling every the In order to accommodate Calderwood and Kirknewton is three minutes to one minute, In to accommodate tripling jet order departure rate froma one every the likely to be significantly greater.
But is the number overflown actually lower?
In order toare accommodate tripling the turboprops be turned south jet departure rate from every three minutes totoone a one minute,
In order to accommodate tripling thedeparture rate from one every jet more quickly over Calderwood, East three minutes totoone a minute, turboprops are be turned south jet departure rate from one every three minutes one a Calder and are Kirknewton. B5minute, issouth asEast the totobe turned more quickly over Calderwood, three minutes to one a minute, turboprops turboprops are to be turned south airport says the existing GOSAM more over Calderwood, Calderquickly and Kirknewton. B5 is asEast the turboprops are to be turned south more quickly over Calderwood, East more quickly over Calderwood,Calder East tosays route the Kirknewton. west then south. and B5 isGiven as the airport the existing GOSAM Calder and Kirknewton. B5 is as the Calder and Kirknewton. B5 is as the that the proposal amounts toGOSAM three airport the existing GOSAM route tosays the west then south. Given airport says the existing airport says the existing GOSAM flights in the same time assouth. one, the route to the then south. that the amounts to Given three route toproposal thewest west then Given route to the west then south. Given B5 represents a 50% increase that the to three flights inproposal the sameamounts time as one, that the proposal amounts to three thatroute the proposal amounts tothe three flights in the same time as one,flights theoverflights in ofsame Livingston. ininthe time as one, the the B5 route represents atime 50% increase flights thesame as one, B5 route represents a 50% increase B5overflights routerepresents represents a 50% increase B5 route a 50% increase in of Livingston. in overflights of Livingston.
in overflights overflights Livingston. On page 143 of ofof the consultation in Livingston.
Letters Agreement On page 143 of theofconsultation On page 143 of the consultationdocument, On page 143 of the consultation document, Letters of Agreement with other143 airspace contain an On page of theofusers consultation document, Letters Agreement document, Letters of Agreement with other airspace users contain an agreement with theofusers Ministry of document, Letters Agreement with other airspace contain an agreement with the Ministry of with other airspace users contain an Defence to allow safe operation of with other airspace users contain an agreement with the Ministry of Defence to allow safe operationagreement of with the Ministry of gliders at Kirknewton Volunteer School. When agreement is activated at of of of agreement the Ministry Defence totowith allow safe operation gliders at Kirknewton Volunteer Gliding School. When thisGliding agreement is activated at this Defence allow safe operation weekends and during school holidays, the claimed benefits of sending turboprops over and during school holidays, the claimed benefits of sending over Defence to allow safe operation gliders at Kirknewton Volunteer Gliding School. When this agreement isturboprops activated at glidersweekends at Kirknewton Volunteer Gliding School. When this agreement is activated at of Kirknewton will be negated. Kirknewton will during beschool negated. gliders at Kirknewton Volunteer Gliding School. When this agreement isturboprops activated at weekends and school holidays, the claimed benefits of overover weekends and during holidays, the claimed benefits ofsending sending turboprops
Kirknewton willroute be negated. weekends and during school holidays, the claimed benefits Kirknewton will bePolbeth negated. Reverting turboprops to the over will increase jet departure intervals to the of sending turboprops over Reverting to theof route over Polbeth will increase Kirknewton will bethis negated. same as now. This appears toturboprops negate aspect the proposed change entirely as airlinesjet departure intervals to the Reverting turboprops the route over Polbeth increase jetdeparture departure intervals to the presumably cannot base schedules onto whether the air happen to bewill flying on same as now. This appears to cadets negate this aspect of thea proposed changeintervals entirely as airlines Reverting turboprops to the route over Polbeth will increase jet to the particular day in as the future.. same now. This appears to negate this aspect of the proposed change entirely as airlines
presumably cannot base schedules onthis whether the air to be flying on a Reverting turboprops to the route over Polbeth will jethappen departure intervals to the same as now. This appears to negate aspect ofincrease thecadets proposed change entirely as airlines
presumably cannot base schedules on whether the air cadets happen to be flying on a particular day in theappears future.. same as now. This to negate aspect ofair thecadets proposed change as a airlines presumably cannot base schedules onthis whether the happen to beentirely flying on particular day in the future..
presumably cannot schedules on whether the air cadets happen to be flying on a particular day in thebase future.. particular day in the future.. facebook.com/groups/kirknewton www.kirknewton.org twitter.com/kirknewtoneh27 Kirknewton Community Council respectfully requests that Edinburgh Airport Limited withdraw their current SID and STAR change proposals and if necessary come back with
W v p a c e s m a a d
I v d o C t n d t n l r C
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camps junction land clean up latest The stage 2 work–(much delayed by the bad weather over the winter–which prevented the screening of the frozen and waterlogged soil) has commenced on the land at Camps Junction. It was originally due to start in December or January. Although still proceeding more slowly than expected, again due to the incessant rain making screening difficult and slow, over 40 % of the area has been completed in the last couple of weeks. The samples taken of the previously ”contaminated” area with hydrocarbons (from fuelling plant) have been tested and found clear so the process recommended by the Institute of Occupational Medicine, of uncovering this material, and
allowing the hydrocarbons to evaporate naturally, has been successful and at minimal cost. No further unexpected or suspicious materials have been uncovered. Around 40 tons of waste has been isolated for disposal, but due to the bad weather making the soil extremely cohesive, this is more than the most optimistic estimate, as the fines are not falling though the screen as well as would happen when the soil is dry. Notwithstanding the various drawbacks and delays, the work is progressing comfortably within the lowest budget so far, and KCDT are not expecting to need to claim the maximum amount granted for the clean up. Meantime Almond Housing are pursuing consultants to help with the feasibility study. Again, this is slightly delayed due to consultants year end projects, but this will hopefully progress soon. West Lothian Council are also being supportive of the project and are helping inform the policy aspects of the Rural Housing Grant application. KCDT are expected to make an application for approxi mately £500,000.
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CHARLES JENCKS
GATEWAY TO VILLAGE ART PROJECT PROGRESSES
Kirknewton Community Council and Kirknewton Community Development Trust have made an application for Planning Consent to West Lothian Council for the proposed Charles Jencks Landform Art at Camps Junction, Kirknewton. This will improve the disused area of ground to the entrance of our village and we also hope to improve walking access down the verge. Our application for funding from West Lothian Council for £20K from the Public Art Grant and an additional £10K from the Village Improvement Funds has been granted conditionally upon us securing planning consent for the work and the asset transfer, which we hope will be successful. Recently, the school and youth club did projects around the proposal. The information has been out in the public domain for some time, online and in the Green Room, and we are keen to get further feedback on the proposals to: infokirknewton@gmail.com. The project brief, put together by Charles Jencks, can be read on pages 13 - 20.
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A Stone’s Progress Or
The monumentalwalk walk Theidea ideafor foraagateway gateway and and short short monumental toTo the eastern onaaconstrained constrained the easternedge edgeof ofKirknewton Kirknewton on Site betweenrailroad railroadtracks, tracks, fencing, site between fencing,trees treesand anda aroad road Charles Jencks Jencks Charles
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The site’s extreme linearity, with four lines all disappearing in perspective, offers possibilities of drama, a natural order of expectation, surprise and fulfilment. Imagine a linear meander, a green path elevated on the existing earth berm above the road. Gently cut into the trees and shrubs four times it comes upon basalt crystals – columns, fragments, Nature’s Art local to the area. From one end of the site to the other one could see, and understand through installation, a story that has ancient roots. The narrative of primitive beauty emerging from processes deep within the earth. The Giant’s Causeway and Fingal’s Cave. Metaphors and myths grow around such basalt outcrops. Today we have a further understanding, the accounts of geology and chemistry, the way basalt is pushed up by heat through the earth’s crust which then solidifies into crystal forms, often of six smooth sides.
Geometrical order grows from chaotic lava – A Stone’s Progress – which has several stages. The walk will dramatise this Order out of Chaos, the progress and regress of fractal stages. These become a gateway for cars, hikers and those who sit and contemplate.
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Kaimes Hill Basalt Columns & Crystal Fragments – Diverse Artforms of Nature Close to the site is the famous Kaimes Hill. It reveals the slow and fast cooling of basalt, in large and small sections, a palisade of prehistoric fortified architecture which later became a quarry. Geological history and erosion have created this diverse Art of Nature. Evident also are the different geometric fragments and oddities of self-organising systems pushed far from equilibrium by heat – sharp blades of basalt. Should one reveal this diversity of form? Recently, fragments have been sculpted and re-laid in dry stone courses to form little shelters for sitting – an echo of the naturally formed seats in prehistory and the Roman fort.
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Kaimes Hill Fort – circa 77AD – a Roman holdover from the prehistoric use of basalt crystals?
In prehistory defensive barriers intimidated the enemy by forming chaotic routes of attack, breaking up the invading forces into individuals. Chaos was used as an organising principle, and image of defence. Later it became the ordered Chevaux de Frise, below, to fill in the ranks of soldiers. Was this nature mimesis wrong – too much order out of chaos? How to depict the right ratio?
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Fingal’s Cave (Mendelssohn) & Giant’s Causeway Organisation out of Chaos is more exact
Heat underneath the earth’s crust forces up the mantle and lava of basalt. If it cools fast and shrinks it forms very small columns; if slowly the columns can be long, four metres and more. The structures crack predominately along a hexagonal geometry but in a fairly chaotic network with polygons of three to twelve sides or more. Nature’s Architecture is caused by heat, the internal chemistry or atomic structure, and cooling at various speeds. Slow=Big vertical, fast=small vertical fracturing. The resultant cellular network is seen as order out of chaos, but at several organisational levels as more heat is applied and the architecture becomes more complex. That is, if frozen at the right moment and speed. We name these different levels with metaphors: Columns, Hexagons, Organ Pipes, Giant’s Causeway, Fingal’s Cave. Higher levels of organisation are seen as progress, less complex as primitive. Drama and direction are read into nature and evolution.
J.M.Gandy
Architecture – it’s Natural Model 1838
No wonder architects followed Nature as the Supreme Artist. Gandy’s primitive scene shows orangutan-man and woman as the social unit living in their primitive hut of thatch. Models of architectural and cultural evolution can be seen, Fingal’s Cave, and basalt columns serving as seats. In the far background Noah’s Ark settles after the Flood, in the foreground is a natural model for Egyptian architecture, the Palm tree of geometry and beauty. All the basic styles, Gandy hoped, emerged from natural forms. But, knowing what we do about organisational levels, what is the right relation between Nature as Artist, and Culture as Artist?
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Organisation out of chaos – Nature & Culture the Artist When heat is continually added to a system it self-organises at many new levels forming patterns. Negative-entropy. With basalt crystals these cells create a random network of different size and shape depending on the composition of the magma, the constraints of space and the heat. This emergence of ever-greater complexity mirrors the evolution of life from inanimate matter and why we often experience dead things as having ‘a life of their own.’ Well, they do, and thus we are natural-born animists. Even more, it parallels the emergence of consciousness, and then culture, from life! Thus the basalt crystal (and the similar Bénard cells, above) become excellent symbols of the self-organising universe, and its diverse beauties. It’s positive arrow of time. And thus we can make a contemporary art of A Stone’s Progress out of the local basalt crystals – from randomness to organisation. On the linear raised earth berm, the 240 metre progress starts at the far right in chaos: or rather, a primitively ordered form of randomness. Here the mixed size and shape of basalt columns are placed in the semi-random layout of what was once the nearby, prehistoric Chevaux de Frise. A zigzag path spills down the moundette which they surmount. This tiny hillock is the first stage of the gateway sequence, first seen from the car (or on foot), as a spikey melange of discordant boulders that, nonetheless, shows subtle emergent orders and geometries. They come from the Kaimes site, in different stages of primitive organisation –
The first stage sets up the gateway sequence from chaos to increasingly complex organisation. Small and medium basalt crystals and fragments are set on RC foundations, amid grass paths, on a moundette giving an irregular way up. Maintenance by Strimmer twice a year sculpts the low growth.
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funding for kirknewton runs out in july 2018 as fauch hill windfarm provides lifeline for our future The Kirknewton Community Development Trust announce their support of the Fauch Hill windfarm application today. As you may be aware we have for the last 11 years worked tirelessly to create an income stream for community activity, to the benefit of the community, particularly investing in renewable energy.This was a mandate of the community, based on consultation in 2007, to invest the funds from the illegal land fill in a project that would provide sustainable support to Kirknewton activities for many years to come.
We have faced several disappointments along the way, largely due to external factors, despite majority community support. Potential projects have included anaerobic digestors, wind turbines and hydro power. We have managed to survive thanks to the Lottery supporting our work and ambition within the community, providing a better start in life for the young in Kirknewton right through to those approaching retirement with our current housing project. Community spirit and engaging volunteers, supporting local business and creating employment, providing care for those in need and supporting young parents/ carers and improving activities for teenage children can all be evidenced. We have shared our experiences and see an active and vibrant sector across West Lothian which identify need based
on community consultation and informed development plans, rather than listening to a small and vocal minority who shout the loudest. This is very welcoming We cannot stress enough that for Kirknewton Community Development Trust this ends on July 2018 when our considerable lottery funding comes to an end. The surprising and revised Fauch Hill windfarm is our only hope for continued funding and maintaining the work we do alongside various stakeholders who care about this community. With ownership of a virtual turbine on the table to support our Development Plan work we intend to make this known as a priority for us over the next couple of months. For that reason, we hope you will encourage and support the Fauch Hill wind farm proposal, particularly at planning stage. From the research undertaken,
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supported by Kirknewton Community Council and the Trust, the Kirknewton community (and we are aware the results in West Calder are dissimilar) tell us “Across the three elements of the consultation (household survey, online survey and surveys completed at the Boralex exhibitions) there were 406 responses from the Kirknewton Community Council area. Of these, 43% indicated support for the proposal (19% strongly support, 24% tend to support) set against 14% that indicated opposition (10% strongly oppose, 4% tend to oppose). The balance was made up of neutral responses (31% neither support nor oppose, 12% don’t know).� Now that this socio-economic component may be considered as of material value in current planning decisions we wish to emphasise the importance of the
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23 income that would be earned on a continuous, long-term basis providing stability in funding that will allow the Kirknewton Community Development trust to plan developments in the certainty of a sustainable income derived from our fractional ownership in this development over the 25 year lifetime of this project. The majority of the community supports this development as does this Community Trust. We believe that ordinary folk recognise that we must accept responsible for the long-term sustainability of our planet on behalf of future generations. Scottish government has ambitious targets for carbon reduction , for generation of electricity from renewable resources and for the ownership by community bodies of renewable energy generating capacity . This project meets all those needs. The offer made to the two host community bodies, and to the wider West Lothian community through West Lothian Development Trust, by the proposer of this development is generous as loan finance is offered on a non-recourse basis. It is unlike offers made to Scottish communities by any other developer as it underwritten by guarantees that facilitate ownership without financial risk or penalties and consequently we recommend that this project is granted full consent by our local authority acting on behalf and to the benefit of the communities that it is elected to represent. We hope we will see this reflected in public support for the Fauch Hill wind farm application, particularly during the local and national elections.
windfarm debate The Kirknewton Community Council arranged an online debate on the Fauch Hill windfarm project and wind energy in general. This debate can be read online at: kirknewton.info/2017/02/13/fauchhill-windfarm-debate
results of the survey Recently members of the communities of Kirknewton and West Calder and Harburn have been asked their opinion about the Fauch Hill windfarm proposal – the full report has been published and can be accessed online at:
k i r k ne w t on .f i le s.wor d p r e s s. c o m / 2 017/ 0 3 / f a u c h - h i l l community-consultation-finalreport-080317-1.pdf
camilty windfarm delay conservation details The granted Camilty Windfarm is delayed as Partnership For Renewables whole windfarm operations is for sale. Details of the project can be found at http:// www.pfr.co.uk/camilty/ It was hoped Kirknewton Community Development Trust (KCDT) could have confirmed part share of ÂŁ5000 per installed MW community benefit and up to 10% investment potential once a number of the planning conditions had been met, but the future of the project remains uncertain. It is doubtful any agreement or funding stream may be reached before current KCDT funding from the Big Lottery ends in August 2018. KCDT continues to be in dialogue with Fauch Hill windfarm developers, with a community consultation due to end in early March.
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Did you know that part of Kirknewton is a conservation area? The Community Council planning team are having discussions to enhance and increase the conservation area. A leaflet is available and is reprinted in this issue of the Kirknewton News on pages 24 and 25.
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Are you interested in being a board member on the Kirknewton Community Development Trust? We are keen to hear from you if your skills can help us with the following projects • Charles Jencks artwork • Camps Junction housing for the elderly • Investment in wind energy at Fauch Hill & Camilty • Financial sustainability for community activities • Fundraising for village projects • Supporting young people Taking forward the Kirknewton Community Development Plan •
OR Are you interested in standing for the Kirknewton Community Council? Current issues include: • Airport flightpaths • Rail barriers • Public transport links • New park pavilion • Virgin Media (village wide) & Scottish Power installation (Humbie) • Planning matters Distribution of funds to local groups •
Then email infokirknewton@gmail.com for more information.
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funds for local groups doctors surgery The Yarnbombers have been awarded £300 from the Community Council for their activities. The Brownies, based in the Kirknewton Church Hall, have also been awarded £300 to go towards a weekend trip to Netherund House.
police reports Between 10 Jan – 10 Feb there was 26 calls from Kirknewton, 6 road traffic calls, 1 Network call, 4 anti social calls – 2 youth related after a fire in the woodland. There was a fire in a bin in Hillhouse Crescent. It was close to a gas main, so had the potential to be even more dangerous to residents. There was the suggestion advice be given at schools re fire prevention. CCTV is being investigated. th
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railway barriers The recent spate of poor reliability has been purely down to the barrier detection process which is principally an electro mechanical arrangement. This is what has been replaced with circuit controllers. This should see a marked improvement in the overall reliability of the level crossing (although since then the barriers have failed again). There are still investigations going on about introducing a footbridge, covered areas on each side of the barrier to protect people on foot during inclement weather and information points on traffic lights and barriers if barriers are expected to be down for some considerable time. At the other end of the village Network Rail have now accepted they own the pathway over the footbridge near Camps Junction and will fix the flooded area at the bottom of the stairs.
In a letter to Cllr Dave King from Elaine King of West Lothian HSCP it was suggested the likelihood of recruitment and management of one GP would be ‘slim’. A single handed GP is not popular these days. The new health centre in East Calder should improve capacity in the area. Elaine suggested local transport options should be looked at. KCDT have already trained over 15 volunteer bus drivers with the intention to transport people from rural areas, the village to an East Calder / Ratho / Balerno loop but management, transport, insurance and maintenance is costly with no guarantees of KCDT funding beyond mid 2018. The KCDT Youth and Volunteer Co-ordinator Jennifer Ba recently attended a conference on community transport, and advice is usually to work with a local transport partner.
smithy brae parking Cllr Carl John noted extra parking bays have been suggested to the KCC at Smithy Brae, where parking and access for emergency vehicles is becoming a problem. This is being costed by WLC. The cost of this will be reviewed by the KCC for a Village Improvement Fund application.
speed signs & lampost replacement Cllr Dave King reported the Council are waiting on a PDSP report from Gordon Brown on potential speed calming sign, to be funded by KCC, near Hillhouse Wynd. Cllr Carl John reported the destroyed lamppost near the same area, hit by a car when it overturned, has been reported but no date yet for its replacement.
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village improvement KCDT has been granted a £13,000 application for a flying fox in the park and £10,000 for the Charles Jencks Gateway To The Village Art Project to the Village Improvement Fund . It is expected a £5000 application will be made for new Village Christmas Lights for 2017, with the community voting on the potential choices. KCC hope to confirm all proposals by May.The Kirknewton Playpark is due to have the flying fox installed in May 2017, weather permitting. Meantime you may have noticed a small improvement. A hard surface has been place underneath the basketball hoop.
park pavilion A final plan which incorporates a number of the lessons learned from the Green Room development, keeping heating/lighting and hot water costs down for the proposed Park Pavilion Changing Rooms has been reached. The council are making site investigations for the area where the previous temporary nursery was (due to flooding concerns) or on the hill of the park (which may rule the project too costly). If all goes well the pavilion will be completed by February 2018 costing approximately £400,000. To improve usage of the Pavilion KCC & KCDT have also been in talks with the Council on £20,000 funding for drainage to the pitch, additional lighting and hard surfacing the basketball area. KCDT & KCC will review management of the unit, based on their resolution and what’s agreed with WLC.
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virgin broadband There is a recognition that Virgin M e d i a w o r k s has been disr uptive for some people in Kirknewton with a mix of reports on the quality of the work. It was felt an approach to Virgin Media would be made to review the works once complete, to ensure it meets the high standard they reported it would be to Kirknewton Community Council. Meantime if you are unhappy with the work, individuals are encouraged to speak to a supervisor first. If not available contact 0870 888 3116 (there is a charge) or expansionworks@virginmedia.co.uk
planning The KCC are writing to West Lothian Council to safeguard the area near Park Terrace, to widen the road to improve access to the area. WLC planners have responded that they are awaiting a report from SEPA regarding the Leavenseat Waste Incinerator. There is concerns about prevailing winds and smell to the area. On another issue a request to Councillors to Scottish Power and SEPA has been requested due to the amount of mud and dirt trenching from the Easter Newton Sub Station to Calderwood through Humbie Holdings and if SEPA have been informed this work will also have to go across the burn.
education attainment fund Kirknewton Primary School have been awarded £12,000 from education attainment fund.
camps junction housing harperigg area awarded broadband cash from windfarm KCDT have agreed a partnership with Almond Housing to develop the applications to Rural Housing Grant for £500,000 funding and planning. It is expected Horizon, a Responsible Social Landlord, will manage the expected seven low cost energy amenity rented houses for the elderly and help with defining the criteria of local people who can rent the properties.
a stone’s progress with kirknewton kids It was lovely to speak to the Kirknewton primary children this week about the proposed Charles Jencks artwork ‘Order and Chaos’ on the Camps Junction site to the east of the village. We talked about volcanic rocks, the history around Kaimes Iron Age Fort and our ‘design your own stone’ project – the two best designs in each class winning a £10 book token. We hope to exhibit as many of the designs as we can in the near future. The stone can feature their own interests or the ‘order and chaos’ theme, volcanoes, views from Kaimes Hill, invading armies or whatever their imagination comes up with. The project will be done in class before the end of the week and more details about the proposed gateway to the village artwork can be found here The Youth Club kids have already designed their own stone work at their Hilly Cow Wigwam Easter trip. The work with the school children will help us secure up to £30,000 worth of funding and kicks off the Kirknewton celebration of History, Heritage and Archaeology 2017.
£150 bag tax donation from festival stores Over December and January the plastic bag tax from Kirknewton Festival Stores went to the charity Kirknewton Community Development Trust. KCDT would like to thank Festival Stores and their customers for their kind donation of £150. You can follow Festival Stores on facebook.
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Residents in the Harperigg area of Kirknewton have been awarded £14,470 to develop improved broadband in the area. The residents, who form a committee of the board of Kirknewton Community Development Trust, received the funds from West Lothian Council Development Trust, who distribute funds from wind farm community benefit. The residents are eligible to receive up to 30% of windfarm funds through this committee, being 10k from the windfarms in the area. The residents intend to set up and maintain a community broadband network for the houses in the Harperrig area that are currently not in receipt of this service. 48 houses have been identified as having no access to broadband by West Lothian Council, and this project seeks to initially connect 24. It will then make connections much easier for the remaining households should they choose to follow this method. This is coupled with the village of Kirknewton winning a national competition to install super fast fibre broadband. Improving broadband in the area was identified in the Kirknewton Community consultation, in which 25% of the population participated. It was expected this was to be completed in 2020 but with the Virgin Media installation and this project, co-ordinated by the residents around Harperigg, improved broadband could be here much sooner. The residents have to find an additional 30% of the funds (the whole project costing £18,200 in the first year) and organise planning for a main relay from Cairns Farm. Well done to the residents in the area who made this happen. If you are unfamiliar with the area of Kirknewton you can park your car at Harperigg Fisheries, thanks to LandTrust funds of £25,000 for a car park KCDT developed with West Lothian Council last year, and walk around the Harperigg reservoir. A map of the area will be delivered to your door soon.
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what ’s on in and around kirknewton every week
GIVE IT A GO AND TRY SOMETHING NEW - MAKE NEW FRIENDS There is something for you in Kirknewton!
Please contact the individuals or organisations running each class direct. Most events run during school term times. To add or update info on this page e mail infokirknewton@gmail.com with your event, day, time, venue and brief description. If you’d like to use the Green Room during the day for a chat, workspace or get together contact us at least 48 hours in advance to check availability. To book the Green Room or Village Hall for your parties, cinema parties, baby showers, events or groups telephone 01506 883 988 or contact Gill Greaves on 07816 880 175. You can also e mail bookingkirknewton@gmail.com with any queries you may have. Hire is approx £10 an hour for both venues. Details for the Church Hall and Potter Around are on page 31.
MONDAYS
MINI & ME – 2-3pm, noise to well known nursery songs plus coffee and chat afterwards, Green Room KEYBOARD CLASS (7+) – 6-7pm & 7-8pm, contact Penny at pianopj@gmail.com, 07920 463 966, Green Room BOXCIR – 7-9pm, contact Michael on 07436 114 196, Village Hall EAST CALDER GUIDES – 7-8.45pm, contact Susan Banks on 0131 333 1657, Church Hall KIRKNEWTON INNKEEPERS DART TEAM – Mondays for matches. For details find them on Facebook
TUESDAYS
PLAYGROUP – 9.15-11.30am, call 07444 813 293, www.communityplaygroups.co.uk, Village Hall KIRKIE KIDS POP UP SOFTPLAY – 1.30-1.45pm, £2.50 per person, fortnightly, Village Hall KIDS CROWCHEZ – 3.30-4.30pm, contact Penelope at penelope@crowchez.co.uk or 07914 277 464, Village Hall EAST CALDER BROWNIES – 6.30 – 8pm, Church Hall EK PILATES – 6.45-7.45pm, improvers to intermediates, contact elise@ekpilates.co.uk, facebook.com/ekpilates, Village Hall COUNCILLOR CARL JOHN DROP IN – 6-6.45pm, second Tuesday of the month, Green Room COMMUNITY COUNCIL – 6.45–9pm, second Tuesday of the month, observers welcome, Green Room (other groups who use the Green Room are Gala, The Community Association, Muddy Boots, the Development Trust, Harperrig Nature Reserve group and The Allotments Association) KIRKNEWTON INNKEEPERS DART TEAM – Various times. For details find them on Facebook
WEDNESDAYS
PLAYGROUP – 9.15-11.30am, call 07444 813 293, www.communityplaygroups.co.uk, Village Hall COUNCILLOR DAVE KING DROP IN – 3pm, Village Hall KIDS CROWCHEZ – 3.30-4.30pm, contact Penelope at penelope@crowchez.co.uk or 07914 277 464, Village Hall RAINBOWS – 5-6.15pm, contact Gill at gillww@hotmail.com, Village Hall BROWNIES – 6.30-8pm, contact Gill at gillww@hotmail.com, Village Hall INTREPID TAE KWON DO – 6.30 – 8pm, http://itkdc.com/clubs/#west-lothian-classes, Church Hall ART THERAPY – 7pm, fortnightly, contact Tammy at happinessworks@outlook.com, facebook.com/tammywoodbrown, Green Room
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THURSDAYS
EK PILATES – 9-10am, 10-11am, improvers to intermediates, contact elise@ekpilates.co.uk, facebook.com/ekpilates, Village Hall BABY AND TODDLERS GROUP – 9.30am, facebook.com/kirknewtonbabyandtoddlergroup, Church Hall POCO LOCO KIDS ZUMBA – 5-7pm, contact Nina on 07922 511 530, Village Hall ADULT ZUMBA – 7.30-8.25pm, facebook.com/zumba.kat, Village Hall BODY CONDITIONING – 8.30-9.30pm, facebook.com/zumba.kat, Village Hall KIRKNEWTON GAMERS – For dates and times check out facebook.com/groups/1176002505801320, Green Room
FRIDAYS
PLAYGROUP – 9.15-11.30am, call 07444 813 293, www.communityplaygroups.co.uk, Village Hall ACCESS 2 EMPLOYMENT JOB CLUB – 9.30-11am, job hunting and CV advice, Green Room Call 0800 032 9768 and ask for Fraser Purdie to make an appointment.westlothian.gov.uk/access2employment BOOK BUGS – 11.30am-12noon, songs and stories for toddlers, Green Room A1 SPORTS – 12.30-1.15pm (under 3s), 1.30-2.30pm (under 5s) – begins 21st April, contact facebook.com/dale.greenan1, Village Hall KOSY CAFÉ – 4-5pm, www.knec4jesus.org.uk, Village Hall YOUTH CLUB – 6-8pm, contact infokirknewton@gmail.com, Village Hall or Green Room full details of Youth Club restarting for the school term before summer soon
SATURDAYS
DANCE CLASSES (ALL DAY) – 9.30am – 6pm, contact facebook.com/westlothianschoolofdance, Village Hall
SUNDAYS
KIRKNEWTON INNKEEPERS DART TEAM – Various times for practice. For details find them on Facebook
church hall
The Kirknewton East Calder Church run various activities and outside groups from Tae Kwon Do, Brownies, Ladies Bible Studies, Babies and Toddlers groups, Pilates, Singing Groups and Women’s Rural. Guides are on Mondays, Brownies on Tuesday, Tae Kwon Do on Wednesday and Baby and Toddlers Group on Thursdays.
For more information please contact: knec-mail@knec4jesus.org.uk or go to www.knec4jesus.org.uk/index.php
potter around For more information on events at Potter Around go to: www.potteraround.co.uk/workshops
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