KIRKNEWTON COMMUNITY
NEWSLETTER
NEW KIRKNEWTON PAVILION
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he Kirknewton Park Pavilion has been completed by West Lothian Council. The Pavilion cost ÂŁ365,000 to build. Discussions are taking place on the management arrangements for the pitch and pavilion between the West Lothian Council, the Community Council and Kirknewton Community Development Trust. More details when we have it...
SUN SHINES ON KIRKNEWTON GALA After last years Gala wash out the weather was kind this year which always makes for a good Gala. There was a full week of events including rounders, fun run and football leading up to the big day when the Queen’s Court headed to a park full of fun. Well done to all the volunteers who helped make it a successful event and for those who supported the day.
I KN Keep up to date with the news at www.kirknewton.info Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/kirknewton/ | Twitter: @KirknewtonEH27 Newsletter produced by Kirknewton Community Development Trust. Charity Regulator Number: SC037895.
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irknewton Community Council has been approached to see if the village would like to consider twinning with a Sailly-lez-Lannoy a village in Northern France. Sailly is located 12 miles east of Lille on the Belgium border. The village used to be a border crossing into Belgium and was surrounded by mining which like West Lothian is now long gone. The village has a population of approximately 2500 people and a primary school, a number of shops and shares many similarities and background to Kirknewton. Villages in France get to control their own budgets. Sailly has a budget of 1mill euros per year. It has just funded a new library and community centre with attached bakery which is staffed by volunteers. The community council was invited to attend Sailly’s fete in April by their community council. The fete is only held every 3 years but involved closing the village roads with plenty of onstreet wine and food. Neil Gwynne and Angel Lynch made their own way to attend on behalf of the council. They stayed with familys in the village and both were made incredibly welcome. Unexpectedly the village arranged a piping band (who were french!) and the school kids sang Flower of Scotland. It is local tradition to make a massive 20 ft 4-kg paper mâchÊ statue with a local theme that is paraded around on some
poor persons shoulders whilst neighbouring villages bring their statue to parade. The village made a statue of a border guard called Jean Gab'Lou. We propose to keep any twinning low key at this stage, it is a opportunity to build relationships and share experiences and has the potential to be incredibly culturally enriching. A few ideas are as follows:
The Schools There is an opportunity to set up links between the schools, skype calls between classes to aid learning French and learning about history and cultural difference between two villages. Saillys school is keen and we have approached Kirknewtons school. There is a opportunity to link both schools Parent Councils as well.
Sport & Societies Sailly have a really good football club with 450 players and 15 teams. They have scouts from Lille football club (second in French league) in attendance. Sailly also has the tennis, dance, pilates, yoga, rugby, allotments and garden club, there are more but we could not remember them all . It would be great if clubs from both villages can do tours to each other and build links between societies and clubs.
Business Opportunities Both villages have a number of business across a range of Sectors, it would be good to link these up for marketing and swapping experience and knowledge.
Idea swapping Sailly expressed interest in the Green Room and how a eco friendly building was developed. Sailly had also developed some interesting ideas including a car sharing club for commutes into Lille.
Exchanges Exchanges between adults and kids to experience life in each of the village.
TOWN CENTRE FUND Kirknewton has aceess to a Town Centre Fund of £53,418 to improve the economic development of the community. Invited members of the community and community led groups, in association with the Community Council and the Kirknewton Community Development Trust had a facilitated discussion led by the Council Regeneration Team to suggest proposals for August 2019 and implementation by March 2020.
KIRKNEWTON HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY
CHARLES JENCKS THE STONES Kirknewton Community Development Trust are progressing with improving disused green space and the Charles Jencks artwork to the east of the village. It was hoped the work would be fully complete by Autumn 2019 but the artist and advisor have been suffering from ill health. However you can access the artwork now with expected full completion, planting, interpretation information and opening ceremony expected in Spring 2020. Charles Jencks artworks are renowned across the world and coupled with his work at Jupiter Artland it is anticipated it will attract many visitors, enhancing tourism in the local area, increased footfall for local business and potential employment generation. Indeed much of the funds raised from The West Lothian Council Arts Grant and Village Improvement Fund has already been spent employing local contractors and people. Thanks also to the Dalmahoy Estate and Ravelrigg Quarry for the donation of stones, community gardener Greg and team plus hundreds of volunteer hours spent on this project.
The Housing for the Elderly project at the east end of the village is progressing, with a likely investment of £1.2 million hopefully to be put in place by the Kirknewton Community Development Trust and the build to be completed by March 2021 The intention is to build seven homes for varying needs. They will be available for rent and the intention is the heating and lighting will cost approx. £200 a year.
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NEWSLETTER
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elcome to the new Kirknewton Newsletter, produced by KCDT in association with Kirkenwton Community Council. We took on board comments about the previous Kirkenwton News. The aim is to provide this newsletter quarterly with issues in September, December, March and June. KCDT is a charity and will rely on support from local business and organisations moving forward.
CONTACT debbiekirknewton@gmail.com or call 01506 883988 to investigate possibilities. • Full Page £100 • Half Page £50 • Quarter Page £25
www.kirknewton.info | Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/kirknewton/ | Twitter: @KirknewtonEH27
NEW CHAIR FOR COMMUNITY COUNCIL Hugh Hunter-Gordon has retired as Chair of the Kirknewton Community Council after 13 years. Following an election John Sives was appointed as the new chair of the Community Council
COMMUNICATION CARDS The Community Council has introduced Communication Cards, available from Festival Stores and the Pharmacy, as a method of hearing from residents on all issues. Go in, fill out a card and the Community Council will be in touch if you leave your contact details.
COMMUNITY COUNCIL ACHIEVEMENTS
SPEAKERS AT COMMUNITY COUNCIL
• The Community Council in the last year have had the steps fixed behind the pharmacy
The Community Council has extended invitations for guest speakers at meetings and these have included:
• A new bus stop sign at the Kirknewton Inn
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Ross Burton Head of Planning – West Lothian Council
• New bin at The Green Room
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Louise McIntyre – Edinburgh Airport
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Willie Clark – Neighbourhood Watch Scotland
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Alison Towers – Waste Management Services – West Lothian Council.
• A new sign for Smithy Brae Other items, some prompted by the Communication Cards in the shop/pharmacy, are ongoing and will be reported in the next Kirknewton News.
BOTTLE BANKS After disappearing for a short while, the bottle banks have been reinstated and can be found behind the park. Go to the bottom of Whitemoss Road, just down from the shop, and they are just a slight walk up the road to back of the park.
PLANNING – PROPOSED PARK AND RIDE AT RAILWAY STATION The Community Council continues to scrutinise all planning applications which may have an impact on the village and make representation to West Lothian Council where appropriate. This included a presentation to the West Lothian Planning Committee in relation to the proposed Park and Ride next to the railway station. This has now gone to the reporter
MEET YOUR COUNCILLORS EVENT During the year The Community Council held a Meet your Community Councillors event in The Green Room to give residents the opportunity of meeting the councillors and discussing issues that matter to them. The Community Council started a Facebook page to keep the community advised of issues and to post the agenda and minutes of meetings. It is hoped to have photos of the Community Councillors on the Facebook page in the near future.
The Bottle Banks are back!
Before
GREEN ROOM FLU JAB After
LITTER PICKING
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big thank you to everyone who took part in the Kirknewton litter picking event in June. Everyone did a fantastic job clearing a huge amount of litter. Adults and children from the primary school did the clean up with such enthusiasm and energy.
It is such a shame that these events are necessary because some people think it is acceptable to drop litter instead of depositing it in the many bins around the village. Let us all do our bit to keep our village and surrounding area a place to enjoy and please tidy up after yourself.
PHARMACY SERVICES Did you know we don’t have a doctors surgery but the Kirknewton Pharmacy can order your regular prescriptions, do repeat prescriptions take unwanted medicines advise and provide treatment on minor ailments give advice on healthy living, stopping smoking and healthy diets can give holiday healthcare advice and in the Post Office you can also take out cash, just like a card machine and order your holiday money.
Each year for the last four years we have been offering the flu jab for senior citizens in the Green Room to save you going to East Calder. This year through out work with the elderly we hope to let even more people know about this service and avoid running out (which they have done in previous years).
KIRKNEWTON GARDEN SERVICES Kirknewton Community Development Trust offers garden services at a reduced cost in the village with profit going back to create employment and for village projects. Greg our Gardener is very busy as he also supports projects at the school, at the Jencks artwork, the community woodlands, the Harperigg Car Park and developing the site at Meadowbank Road. Please contact Greg for any work you want done at 01506 883988 or email gardenkirknewton@gmail.com. He works 3 days a week and is very busy so please be patient. KCDT is looking to see if local need means we can take on more gardeners for the future.
www.kirknewton.info | Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/kirknewton/ | Twitter: @KirknewtonEH27
BOOK THE VILLAGE HALL AND GREEN ROOM The Green Room is perfect for meetings, training sessions, parties and baby showers. The Village Hall is great for parties for all ages. Both only cost £10 an hour. To book call Gill on 07816 880175 or email bookingkirknewton@gmail.com – all the profits from your lets go back into community funds.
WEB SITE Did you know Kirknewton has a website for up to date news and bus/train times and What’s On – go to www.kirknewton.info for more information. Help us keep it up to date by sending your details of What’s On to infokirknewton@gmail.com. If you’d like to write news articles for the website or this newsletter email us at infokirknewton@gmail.com
KIRKNEWTON RECYCLING West Lothian Council’s Waste and Recycling Education Team have been working with Kirknewton Community Council and Kirknewton Community Development Trust in an effort to improve recycling in the village. To kick the project off a ‘waste audit’ was carried out. Fifty random blue and grey bins were collected and the waste analysed to find out what the people of Kirknewton were doing well and what could be improved upon.
The results of the audit showed that 56% of the contents of the grey bins could have been recycled, either in the blue, brown or food waste bin or by taking items to the glass collection point or local recycling centre. Definitely something for everyone to work on. The news on the blue bins is slightly better. 70% of material sorted during the blue bin audit was correct and able to be recycled. However this does mean that 30% was not recyclable. That was made up mostly of waste that should have been in the grey bin and items that had been placed inside plastic bags. As the group of Kirknewton residents who attended the visit to the Biffa recycling plant will be aware, most of the recycling we send there is sorted by hand and there is just no time to pick through and open up bags of waste to check for recyclables. To help improve Kirknewton’s knowledge and enthusiasm for recycling, the Waste and Recycling Education Team have organised a series of events. Visits to Biffa, in Broxburn where our Blue bin
waste goes to be sorted and Levenseat near Forth where our grey, brown and food waste goes, have proved popular, allowing residents to see first-hand what happens after our bins are collected. Presentations and discussion groups have helped the team to understand the barriers people come across when trying to recycle and also dispelled some of the recycling myths that circulate among residents. Events to encourage the 3 R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle) have been held, with a craft and repair café and a ladies clothes swap aiming to make people think twice about discarding things that are broken or they no longer want – why not repair it or pass it on to someone who does want it? The Waste and Recycling Education Team were at the Kirknewton Gala day, but if you missed them email wasteaware.council@westlothian. gov.uk
KIRKNEWTON COMMUNITY LOTTERY GIVES OUT OVER £5,000 IN GRANTS TO COMMUNITY PROJECTS and given lucky winners over £5,000 in grants. We could not have done this without the support of Ian and his team at Festival Stores. Thank you so much to them and to everyone who has bought a ticket. Many community groups have received funds from the lottery. One example was Kirknewton Primary School received £500 which they used to buy toys and games for their together time. The lottery has also supported smaller groups such as Boxcir who received new gloves and the Kirknewton Darts Team who bought new tops. If you are a local group who would like to apply for funds please do get in touch by emailing infokirknewton@gmail.com
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irknewton Community Development Trust launched the lottery on 1 October 2018. The support has been amazing and to date we have sold over 10,000 tickets
If you keep forgetting to buy your ticket why don’t you set up a standing order. You can do so by emaiing us on infokirknewton@gmail.com for more information.
EVENTS AT THE GREEN ROOM & VILLAGE HALL The school have also been getting on board with the environmental project. Lindsey from West Lothian Council went into the school to speak to them about various recycling issues. The class have been working on recycling as a topic and a group of P6 pupils came up with the idea to hold a fundraiser film night in the Green Room in aid of a recycling charity. The kids did an amazing job and managed to raise £219. Well done to them!
SWISH
KIRKNEWTON E-BIKES The Kirknewton Community Development Trust received nearly £5000 for two electric bikes for the village. Try them out, use them for exercise or take a short trip rather than the bus – you can hire them via the shop for half a day at £7.50, Full Day £14 or the weekend for £30. Details on how to book will be made available soon.
FUNDRAISING AND VOLUNTEERING The village hall and the Green Room have been getting put to good use lately. We have had had various events on including our first ever “Great Kirknewton Treasure Hunt” This was organised by one of our lovely volunteers Kelly Kellner who wanted to do something for the community. The event was really well attended and everyone had a brilliant time. We also raised £144 which went toward’s the Senior’s bus trip to Pitlochry. Thank you Kelly – same time next year?
The next event was the Ladies Swish, the village hall was buzzing with over 60 ladies attending this event for some fashion advice and a bit of clothes swapping. Thank you so much to Alison Hay again one of our brilliant volunteers for teaming up to hold this event and to Alison, Lindsey and Lynn from West Lothian Council for supporting this event and for coming along to talk to us about how much of our clothes end up in landfill. Alison Hay’s amazing fashion advice was so helpful and hopefully has made us all think more about what we can do with the clothes we have rather than buy something new. This event was in aid of “Breast Friends and Family” a breast cancer charity affiliated with St John’s Hospital. Thank you to Hazel Orr from this charity and to Linda Hammel from St John’s oncology department for their inspiring and informative talks. We learned that 1 in 8
women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at one point in their lives. This is a wonderful charity and if you would like more information on the charity or how you can help them please go to their Facebook page. We really are very lucky to have this charity in West Lothian. If you are in need of some fashion advice Alison has kindly offered to go through your wardrobe with you and give you some advice for a donation to the chosen charity “Breast Friends and Family” If you would like do this please contact Alison on 07803 157 018. The Swish raised just over £1,000 which is incredible we couldn’t do this without the support of local businesses and our councillors. Thank you everyone who helped to raise this money.
As part of the recycling work with the council we held a joint Bake sale and repair café with 4 th East Calder Guides who meet weekly in the Kirknewton Church Hall. West Lothian Council came along and showed us how to make fun things out of milk bottle cartons. Nikki Thomson another one of our amazing volunteers who did a taster session on making your own beeswax wraps. This was really interesting and great fun. We hope to run another beeswax wrap making session in the Autumn. The guides hard work raised £200.
www.kirknewton.info | Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/kirknewton/ | Twitter: @KirknewtonEH27
SENIOR CITIZEN OUTINGS
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ne of the new initiatives which the Community Council has been developing in conjunction with Kirknewton Community Development Trust is organising events for senior citizens. These have included afternoon tea at the Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club, fish tea and bingo in The Kirknewton Inn and a trip to Pitlochry.
The feedback from those that have attended events has been extremely positive and this initiative has made a difference. We continue to work to ensure that all those that wish to join this group are included. Ask in the Festival Stores for details. To support this work and work with young people in the village Kirknewton Community Development Trust were lucky enough to be awarded ÂŁ75,000 over three years from the Community Lottery Fund Scotland. The fund began in April 2019.
The Green Room Zero energy community building available for hire Ideal for meetings, training facilities, team building days and birthday/movie parties. Prices from £15 delegate fee £10 an hour event hire. Telephone: 01506 883 988 Visit: kirknewton.org
www.kirknewton.info | Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/kirknewton/ | Twitter: @KirknewtonEH27
A GREAT DEAL MORE FROM YOUR LOCAL STORE NEW SERVICES • UPS Parcel Services Drop off and pick up • Cash Back Minimum spend £1 • McGills Butchers Pies, pastries and fresh butcher meat to order
OPENING TIMES 51 MAIN STREET, KIRKNEWTON Monday to Friday: Saturday: Sunday:
6.30am-9pm 6.30am-8pm 7am-7pm
• Stamps, envelopes and greetings cards • Takeaway Food, Cakes and Hot Drinks • PayPoint - Bus passes and pay your bills • Lottery Tickets • Paper Delivery
DOOR-THROUGH-DOOR TRANSPORT FOR PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY CHALLENGES Dial-A-Bus West Lothian provides a shopping service. We collect passengers in Kirknewton on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons to go to Asda, Morrisons and The Centre in Livingston. The bus will pick you up at your home and will set you down at the shopping centre. You will have between 1 and 2 hours to do your shopping, or meet friends and have a coffee and then we return you to your home.
FIRST TRIP FREE - SINGLE OR RETURN Call 01506 633336 to find out more Dial-A-Ride service runs 7 days a week including evenings 365 days a year. Destinations are unrestricted and can include visits to social and recreational facilities, friends, family, health appointments, day trips etc for up to 9 passengers.
£5 DISCOUNT APPLIED TO FIRST TRIP Call 01506 633953 to find out more Our services are designed for older people and people with limited mobility. All HcL vehicles are specially adapted to carry combinations of wheelchair users and other passengers safely and comfortably. The driver will give you assistance from your home, on and off the vehicle and with your shopping as required.
www.kirknewton.org | Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/kirknewton/ | Twitter: @KirknewtonEH27
A list of What's On in the Village
WHAT’S ON... After School Club Mon–Thur 3.15pm–6pm, Fri 12.30–5pm, Primary School Call Simply Play 07871 791 000
Keyboard Class Mondays, Green Room, 7pm, 7+ years Contact Penny on pianopj@gmail.com 07920 463 966
Baby & Toddler Group Thursdays, Church Hall, 10.30-12.30 Follow on Facebook
Kids art club Friday, Potter Around, 2-4pm. £12
Beavers Mondays, East Calder, 6.15-7.15pm Bingo Mondays, Village Inn, 8-9pm Bookbugs Thursdays, Church Hall, 10am Songs and stories for 0-5 yr olds Boxir Monday, Village Hall, 7-9pm Brownies Wednesday, Village Hall, 6.30–8pm Boys Brigade East Calder Church Hall, Fridays Call Jean Gilchrist for information 01506 880 367 jeangilchrist@btinternet.com Cubs Mondays, East Calder, 7.30-9pm Dance Impact Dance Primary+ Combo class Monday’s 5:45-6:45pm Kirknewton Church Hall. Suitable for 5 years+. Free trial class to start then £5 a class paid in terms. West Lothian School of Dance Saturday 8.30am–5.30pm Village Hall for school age kids Film Afternoon Friday, Green Room, 2.30pm New family friendly film every week. Bring a bean bag, take a seat and grab your snacks from Festival Stores and enjoy a movie on the big screen. Guides Mondays, Church Hall – check www.girlguiding.co.uk/get-involvedor email westlothiangirlguiding@gmail.com for more info
Rainbows Wednesday, Village Hall, 5–6.15pm Scouts Tuesday, East Calder, 7.15-9am Senior Citizens Green Room Takeover Monthly Day & time TBC, Green Room
Knit and Natter Wednesday, Potter Around 10.30am-12noon. £5
NEW A place to meet informally with other senior citizens, share ideas, experiences and ask any questions you may have. Bridge may be played!
Lottery Get your Kirknewton Community Lottery tickets by 7pm every Monday at Festival Stores or by standing order. All groups listed here or take place in Kirknewton are eligible to apply for a small grant from the Kirknewton lottery. So not only can you win a cash prize but local groups benefit too! Contact stephkirknewton@gmail.com to arrange a standing order for your lottery ticket or contact stephkirknewton@gmail.com with name of group, what you'd like to apply for and how much you'd like.
Sketching/painting Wednesday, Potter Around, 6.30-8.30pm. Block of 4 £70 Step with Gill Village Hall Monday 9-9.30am Tuesday 2.30–3pm Wednesday 6.30am–7am Wednesday 8.15pm–8.45pm Thursday 2.30pm–3pm Thursday 6.30pm–7pm Friday 6.30am–7am 5.45pm–6.25pm
Oil painting Thursday, Potter Around, 19.30-12.30. £20
Stitch and Bitch Thursday, Potter Around, 7-8.30pm Stitching projects for women and men – search facebook for more info
Parent & Kids Green Room Takeover Mondays, Green Room, 10.30am-12noon NEW A place to bring pre school children and meet informally with other parents/carers and share ideas, experiences and ask any questions you may have.
Quiz Night Thursday 5th September, Kirknewton Inn, 8pm In aid of Gala Funds
Park Run Saturday, Kirknewton Pavilion, 9am Walk or run at your own pace around the park
Youth Club Friday, Green Room, 6.30pm–8pm Starts Fri 6th Sept for P7 & S1 + kids
Pilates Monday, Green Room, 9-10am Thursday, Village Hall, 9am–11am
Womens Institute 2nd Thursday of each month, Church Hall, 7.15pm
Playgroup Tues, Wed, Fri, Village Hall, 9.15 am – 11.30am, 2-5 yrs old Contact admin@communityplaygroup.co.uk or pop in Potter's wheel tastee sessions By appointment Potter Around
Zumba Tuesday, Village Hall, 6.15pm–7.15pm
If you have any other events, more details, further info contact details or something is out of date please email tonykirknewton@gmail.com and we'll change it. Thanks, Kirknewton Community Development Trust
I KN Keep up to date with the news at www.kirknewton.info Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/kirknewton/ | Twitter: @KirknewtonEH27 Newsletter produced by Kirknewton Community Development Trust and designed by The Burgh. Charity Regulator Number: SC037895.