Work starts on £3m hub
Partnership Centre for East Calder
Work is now underway on a new £3 million partnership centre for a West Lothian community.
Construction has started in East Calder to create a new modern, flexible building that will create a new hub for the village.
The new East Calder Partnership Centre is located just off Main Street, adjacent to the health centre.
It will include a multi- function hall, meeting rooms, library, council Customer Information Services (CIS) centre, changing rooms and offices, as well as accommodation to support groups involved in early years, play, out of school, youth work,and outdoor activities in the nearby park and pitches.
Executive councillor for culture and leisure Dave King joined with representatives from the East Calder Partnership Centre Consultation Committee, East Calder Community Council and Hadden Construction to mark the start of work onsite.
Councillor King said: “I’m delighted to see work start on delivering the new £ 3 million East Calder Partnership Centre. I’m proud to have supported this project since it was first proposed and through the council’s committee process, to work starting onsite now.
“The start onsite is the culmination of a lot of effort by council officers and the community who have worked tirelessly to get us to this point, so thank you to everyone involved.
“The local community have been very engaged in the process, and are really supportive and enthusiastic about the project. The centre will create a new focal point for the village, bringing together services and groups under one roof in a central location.
“East Calder is a growing community and it’s vital we have the right facilities and services available to meet the needs of the local community.
“Partnership centres in Broxburn, Bathgate and Fauldhouse have delivered real boosts for their communities, and I look forward to seeing East Calder Partnership Centredelivering similar benefits for the whole village.”
Hadden Construction have been appointed to carry out the construction work, which is due to be completed by early Spring 2017.
Hadden Construction Chairman Scott Hadden said: “We’re delighted to extend our excellent on- going working relationship with West Lothian Council with the construction of this new Partnership Centre which will be a fantastic asset for the village.”
A number of other improvement works will be taking place around the new East Calder Partnership Centre including a new parking area, improved access and complementary improvements proposed to the neighbouring park.
Eddy Goodfellow, chair of the new partnership centre consultation committee, said: “Everyone is looking forward to the new East Calder Partnership Centre opening.”