Low Port to end residential stays

Linlithgow’s Low Port Outdoor Education Centre will close as a residential facility at the end of the year.

From January 1 it will offer sports and outdoor activities as a day centre only.

The move is part of the third and final tranche of savings by West Lothian Leisure Trust as part of its restructuring. The trust, which provides sport, leisure, outdoor education and cultural facilities from 20 sites, is responding to higher costs and funding cuts.

All residential bookings at the Low Port until the end of December will be honoured.

After New Year it will continue to host a range of daytime activities for schools, as well as open activities for children and adults in the evenings and at weekends.

In 2018-19 just 13 per cent of bookings at Low Port were residential.

The centre will be home to what the trust promises will be “an exciting new programme”.

There will also be a cut in festive opening hours across the trust’s facilities but it says these will affect times when facilities are least used.

In earlier cutbacks staff were lost through voluntary early retirement and redundancies, alongside altered opening times, to contribute to savings of £2.6m by 2022.

Tim Dent, chief executive of West Lothian Leisure said: “Some local authorities are being forced to close facilities completely.

“However, we are committed to providing outdoor activities in West Lothian and by switching to daytime only at Low Port we plan to turn a loss- making venue into a thriving centre where children and adults alike can experience the joy of the outdoors.

“This marks the completion of West Lothian Leisure’s restructuring.

“We now move forward leaner but 100 per cent committed to delivering a service that is sustainable and fit for the future.

“Alongside the fantastic range of activities we already offer new initiatives and services will ensure that there is always something for everyone at West Lothian Leisure.”

Low Port was transferred from West Lothian Council to West Lothian

Leisure in 2017, along with Howden Park Arts Centre, Polkemmet Country Park golf course and driving range and the sport and cultural facilities at eight of West Lothian’s high schools.