Row over ‘shared building’ for village

Councillor hits out at Winchburgh plan

Claims that West Lothian Council has broken promises on new council services for Winchburgh have gained momentum.

The newly-elected leader of the SNP opposition for the council has written to the NHS seeking clarification on decisions she says were taken 11 years ago.

The Council’s Executive heard an update on the spending and development plans for the new schools being built as the village grows.

Two new high schools will be built in the village alongside a new primary school.

However, earlier this year the community council began a campaign for a specific partnership centre it says the village was promised at the start of the development of the area as a Core Development Area.

Partnership centres have become a model for delivering health care services and council services from a joint premises across towns in West Lothian.

Councillor Janet Campbell, who was elected to group leadership with the retiral of Councillor Peter Johnston earlier this year, told the meeting: “The Partnership Centre for Winchburgh was agreed and approved by West Lothian Council in May 2009- funding was agreed in November 2011.”

The council now says instead that there will be ample space within the new school buildings for public use and a separate health care facility has a site earmarked.

After the meeting Councillor Campbell reasserted that Winchburgh should have its own partnership premises as originally promised.

She said: “Despite the integration of health and social care and co-location of services being vital in order to ensure effective co-operative working – the current administration stated yesterday “services will not be delivered from the same building.

“This is unacceptable for the expanding Winchburgh community – I have written to the new chief executive of NHS Lothian regarding this issue.”

However, a spokesman for the council defended its stance.

He said: “It is not the case that a partnership centre was approved and taken away from Winchburgh.

“The village is receiving the largest single education expansion ever undertaken by the council together with a range of other facilities to be provided by the council and developer.

“The school’s investment is at a cost of over £60 million and the new facilities including a swimming pool, all weather sports pitches and meeting space, will be available for community use outwith school hours.

“The developer wi l l also make a financial contribution towards library provision within the village.

“The masterplan for the expansion of the village was approved over 11 years ago.

“A potential site for a partnership centre was identified at that time in order that options were available to the council and partners, including NHS Lothian, for future service delivery in the expanded village.

“The existing and new facilities in the village will continue to allow the delivery of council services to residents in the expanded community.

“A n y alteration to GP ser vices and associated health care is a matter for NHS Lothian.”

I have written to the chief executive of NHS Lothian Councillor Campbell