Progress made on Vennel plan

Work on The Vennel in Linlithgow could start in the middle of next year if West Lothian Council’s ambitious marketing plan overcomes a covid drawback.

Estates manager Paul Kettrick presented a timetable which was backed by the council’s Executive which would hopefully bring in responses from potential developments partners with indicative plans before a March 31 deadline. Mr Kettrick’s report said the initial plan was to seek a development framework for the site which occupies the eastern end of the 1960s development in Linlithgow’s High Street.

The report added: “It is therefore proposed that an initial marketing exercise requesting expressions of interest will be sought for the potential “Development Opportunity - mixed residential and commercial.”

The plan is to market the The Vennel for commercial redevelopment later this year and draw up partnership plans in the first few months of 2022. Answering a question from SNP depute group leader, Councillor Frank Anderson, Mr Kettrick said extensive engagement with the community would continue as the plans developed. Conservative Chris Horne said he’d “had his ear bent” as he walked down Linlithgow

High Street, and by his Conservative colleague, local councillor and the Provost Tom Kerr, about when things would happen.

“I think there’s a perception coming from people that this has been dragging on for ages so if we can show signs that this is actually moving that would be a good thing,” he said.

Linlithgow Labour councillor, Tom Conn, said: “I welcome the report from officers which I think, despite the current pandemic, will attract the support of possible partners and help to revitalise this area of the town centre. I think people just want to see something happening.”