Big-hearted pub volunteers ready to help
A West Lothian pub has launched a new initiative to support locals during the ongoing coronavirus crisis, made worse by recent bad weather.
The Tower Bar in Craigshill will deliver the ‘winter maintenance scheme’, which is managed by community pub partners, Frank McAlister and Fiona McLeod.
Due to recent bad weather around the Livingston area, leaving the pavements iced over and consequently dangerous to walk on safely, Frank jumped into action and took the initiative to begin clearing and deicing the pavements and driveways of elderly and vulnerable residents, in order to help keep them safe during the sustained winter weather.
Following a post on the Tower Bar Facebook page advertising the scheme, Frank received a number of messages from the local community and regulars at the pub requesting to take part and support the scheme, bringing the total number of volunteers to more than 30.
As a result, Frank and his team have managed to clear over 30 driveways and counting since launching the initiative earlier this month.
The winter maintenance scheme is the second initiative launched by the Tower Bar and is preceded by the Tower’s Covid Action Group.
Set up at the beginning of the pandemic by the Tower Bar, the group, which is still active within the community, aims to support the local residents in any capacity needed, from collecting groceries for shielding residents, making emergency repairs to boilers and other appliances, and collecting prescriptions for those unable to leave their houses safely.
The initiative, comprised of the Tower Bar staff, regulars and community volunteers, recently received recognition from the Scottish government, following a motion put forward by local MSP, Neil Findlay.
Frank said: “The coronavirus is affecting communities and businesses across the country, and in times like this, it is important that we all come together and do what we can to help one another.
“We believe our pub is a focal point for locals, something that becomes especially important during difficult times.
“We are more than happy to roll our sleeves up and do what is needed in order to serve our community, and the amount of other locals volunteering to get involved is testament to how closeknit this community really is.”
The pub is owned by Hawthorn, the community pub company, which owns more than 700 pubs across Scotland, England and Wales.
Andrew Parker, director of leased and tenanted operations, Hawthorn said: “We’re proud to be a community pub company, and it’s more important than ever to serve our communities at times like this.
“It’s the sign of a truly great community pub that the Tower Bar can continue to have such a positive impact even when it’s closed, so well done Frank and his team for the fantastic job they’re doing, from all of us at Hawthorn.”
In May last year, we reported on how The Tower Bar had been helping to support their local community during lockdown.
And even back the Frank said the pub was ready to help anyone in the area who is in need.
He said after saving the pub from demolition two years earlier the community had helped to renovate it.
Frank said when lockdown forced the pub to close he set up an action group made up of very trustworthy reliable friends from the local area.
It started out with about 14 people to begin with but it grew fast.
For the less able and single parents the volunteers did their shopping, picked up prescriptions and emergency repairs and lots of other jobs. The volunteers included qualified electricians, joiners and plumbers who have been donating their time and skills for free and even a mechanic who has offered to fix cars to allow volunteers to keep helping and two taxi drivers who are offered lifts for desperate people too.