The Development Trust begin the 6 month Food Waste Trial to prevent food waste going to landfill and to provide data for the proposed AD plant. There are 15 bin champions appointed and over 260 homes take part.
The Park Action Group begin consultation on potential new outdoor gym equipment for the playpark (for kids and adults 15+)
The new Kirknewton website is launched at www.kirknewton.org
The Kirknewton Gala happens. Like most of the Gala's in West Lothian during the 'summer' it rains. And rains. And rains. But the residents of Kirknewton stay and enjoy the event until the bitter end.
April
July
The Fauch Hill windfarm develops with some turbines moved into the West Calder and Harburn Community boundary. Kirknewton insist West Calder and Harburn join any discussions about community benefit or potential investment in the wind. A large road and an underpass are agreed to replace the level crossing at the train station. Village opinion is largely not in favour of the proposals and Network Rail later announce they hope to put in a double barrier instead. The new playpark is opened, just in time for the 'summer' that was April. It is well used! A Park Action Group begins to help West Lothian Council develop the park throughout the year. Kirknewton Powerdown funding ends and, after two years in the village, we say good bye and thanks to Lisa Morton and her team. They end with a fantastic 'Meals and Wheels' event at which over 300+ people attend. The Clan cycling team make an appearance, cycle use is promoted by groups such as West Lothian Clarion and local food and drink are consumed and enjoyed!
May
The Community Consultation paper is published online at http://issuu.com/kirknewton/docs/ kirknewton_final_report2011.1 We begin consulting about where to put the proposed recycling bins from West Lothian Council (at time of writing this is not yet resolved). A copy of the 'I Love Kirknewton' community consultation is sent to the local history library in Linlithgow. The snow finally ends!
June
The draft Kirknewton Development Plan is launched for consultation.
Kirknewton come 33rd out of nearly 1000 community groups on energyshare for our proposed hydro scheme at Harperrig Reservoir. We are in the last 100 but don't make the final cut but help support the Portobello and Leith Community turbine project, and they win ÂŁ80,000 by only 30 votes! MP Liam Fox announces a proposed new super barracks to be based at Kirknewton airfield. Kirknewton representatives attend a meeting in October but there is no new information scheduled until Spring 2012 at the earliest.
August
The Park Action Group announce a potential new path around the park - it is completed by the end of September, to be reviewed after the winter months. The first Police Drop In takes place at the Development Trust office. The Police Drop In event takes place monthly thereafter.
September
Angela Constance MSP has her first surgery in the Development Trust office. The Development Trust take on the lease of the 24 Main Street office for another twelve months and extend the Development Officer contract til at least April 2012. The food waste trial ends after a successful and well received six months. Work begins on convincing West Lothian Council they should consider funding the project until their own food waste scheme begins. Work begins on the new path around the park and the new Outdoor Gym is installed.