Page 3 - 366242 LP246366 BB Magazine 36pp A4 (August 2022)

DAVID TAIT,
EDITOR
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Our front cover reflects the work done by Burgh Beautiful’s small army of dedicated scrapers, weeders, planters and trimmers in preparation for the visit of the Britain in Bloom judges
at the end of July. They have done
the town proud ensuring Linlithgow has the best chance of winning
this national competition whilst promoting the town across the whole UK. This is an important contribution towards Linlithgow fulfilling its obvious potential to become a thriving visitor destination for “staycationers” and overseas visitors.
On a day of glorious sunshine the judges enjoyed Linlithgow looking
at its best and were generous in their praise of all those from across the community whose work combined
to produce a superb show – from the high-profile frontline volunteers with dirt under their fingernails to the largely unseen backroom admin team whose contribution makes the whole thing possible.
It’s a long anxious wait until decision day on 10th October but, whatever the outcome, everyone associated with Burgh Beautiful can be well content with what they have achieved for the town especially against a background of testing times when everyone is in need of a bit of cheering up.
Discussion of the Local Development Plan does not always set the blood racing but communities are being given an opportunity to participate in the next one and it is critical to the town’s future that a clear and well- argued Local Place Plan is delivered when called for.
While the timing of the Local Place Plan process has not yet been announced
by the Scottish Government, the Planning Forum subgroup of the Community Council is pressing ahead with the community consultation exercise which when completed will be submitted to the Planning Authority for consideration as part of the new process of preparing the next Local Development Plan.
The public consultation will remain open until late September with paper forms available from the reception area of the Burgh Halls and online
at www.llbcc.org.uk/planning.
The Local Place Plan provides an opportunity for communities to let their Planning Authority know their development priorities. Many have already made their views known and once the consultation closes towards the end of September an analysis of responses will be included in our next issues before the end of the year.
Meantime in this issue, on pages
4 & 5, the Planning Forum provides an update on a sample of the public comments analysed to date – the need for the implementation of an “infrastructure first” policy, need
for affordable housing to allow the younger generation to remain in their home town – and specific concerns about inadequate public transport for the many staff travelling to work from outwith Linlithgow.
Elsewhere in the magazine we cover the return of two major musical events – Party at the Palace and Linlithgow Folk Festival – and the 29th running of the Linlithgow 10K which attracts entrants from a wide area outwith the town – another event that promotes Linlithgow itself and brings potential trade to local
businesses with upwards of 1,000 runners taking part. Also coming back from a forced Covid break is the Linlithgow Rugby Club Male Voice Choir which is announcing the restart of rehearsals and is keen to hear from potential new members.
There’ll be those who react grumpily to the early mention of Christmas but not Rowen Events whose plans are well advanced to lighten up the “Festive Forest” at Beecraigs from 2nd to 23rd December for what has proved to be an extremely popular event for all the family.
On heritage, Bruce Jamieson has been digging around investigating some of the nefarious activities of past years carried out in the name of advancing anatomical knowledge, requiring the deployment of mortsafes and grave-watchers’ huts. An interesting insight as always.
And finally, our request to our readers to consider supporting the magazine by subscribing. We hope everyone finds something to
enjoy or inform in the magazine. We have no Head Office to consult or individual financial backers to dictate content. It is produced and delivered by dedicated individuals supported by generous subscribers and local businesses and groups.
So whether you are a Black
Bitch with deep family roots in Linlithgow or one of the many more recently arrived please give some consideration to subscribing in support of our independent efforts to tell the Linlithgow story.
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