West Lothian traffic disruption likely as last green space is developed on Bathgate estate
Residents on a West Lothian housing estate have been warned of potential disruption as building wok that neighbours didn’t want gets underway.
Land in the centre of Wester Inch, Bathgate was promised as a “village centre” 20 years ago – but that never happened. Instead, the site became a wilderness, but also a green lung for the densely built housing estate that replaced the former industrial area south of the town centre.
Persimmon Homes won an appeal to the Scottish Government after West Lothian Council refused its plans to develop the site in 2024. The firm has a base in Wester Inch and said the development would enhance the community, adding it would “create an authentic village centre feel.”
The homebuilder said: “The proposals include a variety of housing and retail facilities – which have long been desired by the local community. We’ve listened carefully to the views of local residents and ensured the new proposals incorporate their priorities and address their concerns – from prioritising the earliest possible delivery of the retail facilities, to providing dedicated parking.”
Only four retail units will be built; the rest of the site will be a high density development of 85 houses and flats on a site bordering Simpson Avenue and Leyland Road.
Local Councillors Willie Boyle and Pauline Stafford led criticism of the plans when they first came before the council’s Development Management Committee in April 2024.
A spokesperson for West Lothian Council confirmed today, Thursday, January 22, that construction work was now underway and warned of the potential for disruption.
The spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “During the construction period, temporary traffic lights will be in operation on Leyland Road and Simpson Avenue as and when required to ensure the safe movement of both pedestrians and vehicles through the works area.
“Where construction vehicles are entering and leaving the works areas, banksmen will be in place to ensure the safety of pedestrians. The developer has also been encouraged to ensure there are no deliveries or excessive construction vehicle movements during the start and finish times of Simpson Primary School.”
The site, planned as a “village centre”, was “greened” during the initial housing development and has been used and recognised as open space ever since.
It was always earmarked for development as a retail area. However the latest plans are predominantly for housing. The justification for the changes are that the nature of retailing has changed in the last 20 years.
Filing their objections at the initial lodging of the plans in 2024, neighbours cited fears of extra traffic in the area, which is already heavily congested with motorists, especially at school drop-off and pick-up times.
Now with more than 2,000 homes in Wester Inch, the area can “feel very oppressive”, Councillor Stafford told the meeting of DMC which rejected the proposals initially.
At that meeting Councillor Stafford said: “Of course retail has changed but communities haven’t changed and the community in Wester Inch has grown organically in the last 20 years despite having almost no community space. So I think it is an insult to them to put up four tiny units.
“Wester Inch does have quite an oppressive feel and when you drive through it is almost a breath of fresh air when you get to this one point that is an open space.”