COMMUNITY COUNCIL

CHAIRMAN SECRETARY Robert Armit Robert Birrell 69 South Middleton 31 Erskine Place Pumpherston West EH53 0LU EH52 5GA Tel: 01506-880006 Tel: 01506 858583 E-mail: [email protected]

11.03.09 Gerry Fitzpatrick Head of Cultural Services Your reference WLC/CS/GF/IB Lindsay House South Bridge Street WEST Lothian EH48 1TS

Dear Mr Fitzpatrick

CAPITAL PROJECTS AT PUMPHERSTON AND

Further to your letter of 27 February 2009, I can inform you that Pumpherston Community Council held a Special Meeting on Tuesday 10 March 2009 and unanimously agreed to make the following recommendation regarding the use of the £23000 remaining of the original £35000 which you indicated was allocated. The Chairman of the then School Board, who is a member of the Community Council, would dispute the figure, but that is for another forum.

It is Pumpherston Community Council’s contention that the money was initially earmarked for the use of the combined Pumpherston and Uphall Station Primary School, following the merger of Pumpherston Primary School and Uphall Station Infant School and subsequent closure of the Uphall Station building. Therefore we propose that the money in full should be allocated to the school to improve facilities and resources. This is even more important now, given that the building of new replacement school has been further delayed by the cancellation of the proposed development in the Drumshoreland area. We understand that Pumpherston and Uphall Station Primary School is one of only two schools in West Lothian which does not possess Interactive Whiteboards throughout the school. Provision of a number of these items would enhance the teaching and learning in the school and would have the added advantage of being able to be moved to the new school when that is completed. We also understand that this would be welcomed by the staff and pupils of the school. The use of the money in this way would undoubtedly be of benefit to both communities.

With regard to your suggestion that the it would be possible to upgrade the community facilities in both villages, I would intimate that at the time of the closure of the Uphall Station building and previously at the original decision to have a new school, both communities were assured that all remaining buildings used by the school would be maintained in a reasonable state of repair and decoration without recourse to this particular sum of money.

I trust that this proposal, which we believe to the most equitable solution, will receive favourable consideration from the Local Area committee and yourself. Should you require any further details, please do not hesitate to contact me and I look forward to hearing from you in the near future with the committee’s final decision.

Yours sincerely Robert Birrell, secretary.