Livi to get 37 new affordable houses Association set out plan to educate on Somme

Planning permission has been granted to build 37 new affordable homes at two town centre sites in Livingston.

Demand for affordable housing is high in Livingston and West Lothian Council has been granted planning permission to build 16 flats and four houses at Land adjacent to Almondvale Stadium Road and eight flats and nine houses adjacent to Alderstone Road, Livingston.

At Almondvale Stadium Road four two storey houses and four two story blocks of cottage flats will be built on scrub ground on the north side of the access road to Lidl and the Almondvale Stadium and south of the River Almond corridor.

And at Alderstone Road nine houses and two blocks of four cottage flats will be built on unused land on the south side of the access road to Lidl and the Almondvale Stadium. The proposed buildings are also two storeys in height. Parking spaces will be provided to the front of each property, directly off the existing road and a layby with 6 visitor spaces is proposed at the east end of the site.

Executive councillor for Services for the Community, George Paul said: “We are pleased that planning permission has been granted for these sites and work to build the new council homes will now move forward.

“Demand for affordable housing is very high in Livingston and the council want to help provide more new homes for residents in West Lothian. These new council properties will help to alleviate some of the pressure on the council housing waiting list and provide people with new, affordable homes. The project to build 1000 new homes will also deliver a number of community benefits including employment opportunities for local businesses.” a Bathgate-based war remembrance group has set out its three-year plan to educate the people of West Lothian.

the ancre somme association (asa) laid out its strategy to highlight the events surrounding the Battle of the somme and all subsequent conflicts last week.

Led by honourary president and West Lothian’s provost tom Kerr, the asa announced plans to develop a historical education programme for schools, youth clubs and adults.

and they have pledged to help facilitate trips to the WWI and WWII battlefields and graves.

It comes after members of the organisation put on an exhibition for Balbardie primary school pupils when their annual trip to the Belgian battlefields was cancelled in april this year.

provost Kerr said:“the asa provide a programme of education for both school pupils and the public to ensure the preservation of individual stories of local people who served and fell during WW1, and in particular, the battle of the somme in 1916.

“I would like to praise the asa for the work they do in keeping the memories of those who fought for this country alive and hope that through their education and events they continue to do so for many years to come.”

there are four strategic aims of asa scotland as set out in the plan.

the first is to facilitate learning within and between communities, in relation to commemorative events preceding, surrounding and following the Battle of the somme, including subsequent conflicts.

number two is to explore and develop services in response to the needs of members, associated clubs and the wider community.

Members will also positively promote the ancre somme association and they will encourage the internal and external growth of the association across scotland and throughout the uK.