Welch’s Parks 30 April 2015 Pedestrian Crossing at Lights Administration Update Spring Edition 2015 Stoneyburn Group pursues a crossing for Willow Wood

The Community Company recently received the an- The Stoneyburn and throughout the villages ing is essential. The nual report from Grant Thornton, the insolvency prac- B en ts Commu ni ty and with some success Community Council titioners handling the Administration of Welch’s Parks Council with the Stoney- already. The Group have already had talks WILLOW WOOD RESIDENT S ASSOCIATION the previous owners of Willow Wood. Despite the ef- burn & Bents Future have obtained funding with West Lothian Chairman: jim Haluch 01501 762190 forts of the Administrators, creditors of Welch’s Parks, Vision Group are ac- for a project worker to Council who recognise Secretary: Susan Meiklejohn 01501 760190 tively campaigning for a take on their plans the need but as always including WWRA had suffered considerable financial controlled pedestrian among which is a path the costs are a problem. www.willowwoodwestlothian.co.uk loss. The Administrators have however been in- to Addiewell from Ston- crossing at Stoneyburn Both groups are ac- formed of further assets of the Welch’s original opera- Cross. eyburn. Since this path ‘Creating a Community’ tively pursuing funding tion amounting to some £150,000 which can be dis- The Future Vision Group will cross Stoneyburn and have requested Cross to link up with an THE WILLOW WOOD WANDERER tributed among the creditors and a Creditors Meeting (of which Mike Larkman support from the old path which ran from 11 Cuthill Brae is being held in Manchester in May to decide on how was a founder member) WWRA in lobbying the invited Association repre- the Cross past the bun- authorities for help. West Calder EH55 8QE these should be distributed.

sentatives to their most galow to an existing The WWRA represen-

EDITOR: JIM HALUCH As a small creditor of the original Administration recent meeting on 14 path at the bridge below tatives assured them TEL: 01501 762190 WWRA received 2.31p in the £ for our original un- April and Jim Haluch and Willow Wood. that the Association paid debt—about £5. The new assets could raise a fi- Wilma Gault attended. The Community Coun- would support the cil, who are party to The Wanderer nal dividend of 3.60p or 5.56p and the Company sec- The Group explained their moves. retary has been instructed to make a proxy vote in fa- programme for the vil- these aims, had recog- WWRA have been of- Next Edition Summer 2015 nised the difficulty Contribution deadline 15 July 2015 vour of the larger amount. lages and assured us that fered a place on both ‘The villages’ included faced by Willow Wood the Community Coun- Why not contribute to The Wanderer? residents in making the It is understood the Welch organisation continues to Willow Wood. cil and the Vision Send your letter, article or photograph to the operate parks both in Scotland and England. crossing from the pave- Group and the commit- Editor A major plank of the ment toward the bus group’s activities has tee are exploring the stops and they recognise possibility of a candi- been open up pathways that a controlled cross- WANDERER NOTICES date. come by the SNP Prior to her COMPUTER PROBLEMS? Breich Valley NEW MP landslide through- election Han- FOR REPAIRS, ADVICE, INKS Church The General Election out Scotland. Our nah worked in AND HARDWARE new SNP MP at TV, SNP cam- Stoneyburn has come and gone Worship every Sunday at and the Livingston Westminster is paigning, the GW Computers M s H a n n a h US Consulate 10.30a.m. Constituency has a Stoneyburn new MP. Bardell, a and latterly in Rev Robert Malloch Livingston resident who Public Relations. 01501 763363 The previous incumbent, attended Broxburn (See Graeme Mor- Labour’s Graeme Morrice, Academy and the Uni- rice’s regular article FRESH EGGS WWRA DIARY 2015 a regular contributor to versity of Stirling where on page 7) right to your COFFEE MORNINGS the Wander, was over- she studied politics. door Fri. 15 May 10am –12noon at Willow Inside this issue: WWRA EVENTS DIARY Wood No 17 (Linda’s) Friday May 15 10-12.00 Every Wednesday Donation £2.00 Editorial, Newsdesk1 2 Coffee Morning No 17 Call 01501 762256 Snow plough fund Features, Newsdesk 2 3 Saturday 20 June 4pm –late ———— Newsdesk 3, Energy Efficiency 4 Annual Garden Party

Fri. 19 June 10am –12noon SERVING THE RESIDENTS OF WILLOW WOOD PARK Wanderer articles, editorial comment, WWRA News 5 Friday 19 June 10-12.00 letters and photographs are published in good faith. The Publishers take no re- No 31 (Margaret’s) Best Kept Home Competition 6 Coffee Morning No 31 sponsibility however, for any errors Donation £2.00 inaccuracies or omissions. The views of The Willow Wood Wanderer The Politics Page 7 Sat.15 August 4pm—late contributors are not necessarily those of Snow plough fund Annual Supper Evening the Publishers Article—Homes for sale, Advertisements and Notices 8 number of teachers in West EDITORIAL THE POLITICS PAGES Lothian maintained at current levels – and will keep people NEW FACES early Wyldecrest years and so Lets get behind the committee Angela Constance writes to Willow in West Lothian protected are ready to come forward with and help where we can and do- Wood...... The WWRA Committee is rein- against the imposition of West- new ideas—witness the snow nate where we cannot. vigorated with new blood and the minster’s Bedroom Tax. plough project from Donny SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT progress will be obvious to read- TIME FLIES Woodmore and the Best Kept DELIVERING MORE MONEY The Scottish Government will ers of our various articles. A full Home competition from Linda The General Election was be- FOR WEST LOTHIAN COUN- continue to work alongside our programme of events and pro- Lennox. We hear that another coming tedious and now it has CIL jects is planned and under way, partners in local government to couple of projects are taking come and gone –and it seems funding has been received and I recently welcomed the Scot- deliver the best possible deal shape. A hut has been do- ages ago. A casualty of the more is being sought as we tish Government’s increase in for people in Scotland – and to nated by Jimmy Richardson for SNP landslide was our previous speak. Association funds stand protect our public services as further storage and it is already MP ,Graeme Morrice, well funding to West Lothian as a at an all time high of £3200 and Angela Constance much as possible. in course of erection in the known to Wanderer readers for further demonstration of its plans are in hand to purchase 40 is MSP for the Almond Valley con- Community Garden presuma- his regular Westminster column. commitment to the area. As always, I am happy to help chairs to match the tables stituency which includes Willow Wood bly to house the new chairs! Graeme took a keen interest in bought last year. The biggest The Local Government Finance and is Cabinet Secretary for Train- with any issues at Willow Plans are afoot to facelift the park home issues as his final change we note is a change of Order agreed by Parliament in ing, Youth & Women's Employ- Wood, individual and collective septic tank area with a simple article illustrates and we thank attitude. The new members of March delivers an additional ment in the Scottish Government and I can be contacted on gravel covering after some him for that interest and wish the Committee do not come with 01506 460403 drainage work and it should him well in the future. £107m to local government in the baggage of the Welch and and Willow Wood in particu- solve a long standing problem. Scotland – and shows that the budget allocated to West Lo- lar and is another example of DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN thian Council has risen from the Government’s commit- died so unexpectedly. The negative numbers, I wonder if TO YOUR HOME Newsdesk 1 £305.7 million in 2014/15 to ment to investment in our money will be used for staff that entitles us to a rebate? £308.7 million in 2015/16. vital public services. training and patient education Thanks... at the hospital Diabetes Our Thanks... This package includes funding The Scottish Government is Aileen Carmichael at No 32 Clinic. Goes to the Lifesure Group for to maintain the council tax providing a fair deal for local has asked us pass on her their continued donation of freeze for another year, main- government and is delivering thanks and that of St John’s Pitch Fes 2015... tain teacher numbers at on key policies benefiting lo- £150 to WWRA funds. Many Hospital Department of Dia- Just been reflecting as the in- residents now use Lifesure 2014/15 levels, to mitigate the cal people – from the council betes for the donation of flation rates heads for zero and report good experiences. Bedroom Tax and to provide tax freeze which is protecting Check & Maintain £415.00, the proceeds of the 0%, pity our pitch review was See advertisement on back free school meals for children in family budgets during tough collections at the funeral of her not later. If the rate goes in to page. P1-3. economic times to free partner, John Keenan who school meals to give our This latest funding boost from youngest pupils the best the Scottish Government will, I possible start in life. The Wanderer Photo Feature ... Pictures: The Wanderer hope, be welcomed by people 07711 402836 across West Lothian in general This funding will also see the

Currently over 16,000 people in West Lothian and 400,000 across Scotland are paid below the Living wage of £7.85 per hour. Low pay and job insecurity are cancers within our society eating away at people, impacting on every aspect of their lives, their relationships and general well-being. If you don’t know how many hours you are working and how much pay you will receive then how on earth can you plan your life, your budget, pay your bills and provide for your family? This is even more disturbing when we see the huge concentration of wealth held in so few hands across Scotland and the UK. Only in the last month the Sunday Times Iona Abbey in May Rich List showed how the very richest in our country have doubled their wealth in the past 10 years while the rest have experienced a real terms cut in incomes. This is From Neil a moral as well as economic scandal. Politicians and policy makers at all levels of Findlay government should be prioritising these issues. Over the coming year these issues Apple blossom at MSP Lothians Diana meets a smiling Miss Cerys will be at the top of my priority list. We cannot run a successful and fair economy Willow Wood (Labour) Haluch visiting from Australia when so many of our people are struggling to survive

Page 2 THE WILLOW WOOD WAND ERER 30 APRIL 2015 Page 7 Graeme Morrice Best Kept Home Competition Member of Parliament for Livingston Constituency 2010-2015 The Wanderer Features

THE WANDERER THE COMMUNITY

KITCHEN GARDEN By Joyce By Tom Meiklejohn

Not boasting mind, but the ob- BLOOMING AUGUST At last a bit of spring heat that servant among you might have The WWRA committee are has brought out the flowers for noticed I’m a bit slimmer; actu- launching a best kept home com- this time of year; next will be the ally about a stone slimmer. BLOOMING AUGUST petition this summer, sponsored grass growing which will need not forgiving to park homes About three months ago I tended to. Peter will no doubt As you will have read else by Park Homes Scotland Ltd. to and they need constant atten- Graeme Morrice meets National joined the Hairy Bikers Diet encourage residents to keep their help and advise me on that. After where in this edition, the tion if big bills are to be Caravan Council Club online and have been fol- will come the summer planting WWRA committee are making homes and gardens in tip top avoided later. I recently met with Alicia lowing their programme since. condition. and I will be looking for volun- strenuous efforts this year to teers for a garden clear up day A simple precaution is to regu- Dunne, Group Marketing Director The recipes are very interest- continue to upgrade the look of For judging purposes, points will about the middle of May, the larly check the render on the of the National Caravan Council ing, contain a lot of ingredients the park and to maintain the be awarded in respect of the fol- date will be arranged later and outside of your home for cracks (NCC), the national body for and the resulting food is really public areas to a standard which caravans, motor homes and park lowing criteria: you will all be kept informed, tea or water bubbles. These need full of flavour—the sort of thing reflects the work all our resi- homes. and coffee will be on hand to urgent attention, as many here you expect in good restaurants Maintenance and cleanliness of dents put into their homes and keep the workers happy. By then have found out. Also, your and it obviously works from property including windows/ gardens. With little interest It was fantastic to meet with I hope to be back to my old self home insurance may not pay slimming point of view. Pic- doors/steps from the park owners, the com- Alicia and speak about some of tured below is one of the dishes again after the treatment for my out is you have not had your mittee have unanimously agreed the issues that are important to I prepared from their menu— Maintenance of paths/driveways cancer is ended. Thank you all home painted every three years the residents of Willow Wood. In that self–help is the only option around the property for your concern and best wishes. as the manufacturers recom- particular, we discussed the im- if we want to maintain stan- Creative use of plants/baskets/ dards. In conjunction with our mend. portance of residential park homes, like those at Willow tubs/flowers/ornaments planned facelift of the septic To encourage residents to Wood, in offering a unique and Overall impact of the garden and tank area and fundraising for a maintain their homes and gar- affordable housing choice to property tractor/ snowplough the Com- dens to a high standard the As- many people. mittee would like to encourage sociation is launching a Best Independent judging from out- Jimmy at number 21 has given us and help all our residents to keep Alicia also informed me about the a shed which we intend to erect Kept Home this year with in- A chicken and ham tangle pie. side the park will take place on their homes and gardens in tip dependent judging on 15 Au- NCC’s services and initiatives, 15 August prior the Annual in the garden and you may have top condition. gust 2015 prior to the annual including the NCC Approved The website is the best slim- BBQ. First prize £100 and run- noticed Donny at number 5 BBQ. For judging purposes, Code Schemes which provide ming site I have ever come ner up £25 Garden Vouchers. clearing a space for it. Whilst he The committee knows that not additional consumer protection, across and is a real aid to keep- everyone is as fit as they used to points will be awarded in re- was there his wife Lorraine the NCC Training Academy that ing track of how you are doing. Full details to follow; the com- helped to clear up and do a bit of be for keeping a garden and will spect of the following criteria: aims to enhance skills of those mittee want to give advance no- Take a look at the website... weeding I thank them both for all try to assist anyone who asks for working in the sector, and the tice to allow folks to plan ahead. 1) Maintenance and cleanliness www.hairybikersdietclub.com their hard work. Donny will be help. One idea being mooted, of property including paint- Central Registration & Identifica- since folks are finding difficulty tion Scheme (CRiS), the national looking for some help to erect work 2) Maintenance of paths/ the shed, anyone who will be in finding garden help, is for the driveways around the property register for UK touring caravans, Newsdesk 2 which provides a service similar a bird table. Much as we all able to help please contact Association to organise a job- 3) Creative use of plants/ to that of the DVLA for vehicles. want to attract birds to our Donny. We will use the hut for bing gardener for the summer baskets/tubs/flowers/ornaments Rats! There have been some months and dividing the cost gardens, rats are a less attrac- storing the chairs we intend to and 4) Overall impact of the As many residents will be aware, sightings of rats around the between everyone who wishes to tive proposition and the ad- purchase for use when we hold garden and property there is often a lack of knowledge park and the Association have use the service. If you are inter- vice given is that we should all events, this will save us having First prize £100 cash of the park home lifestyle consulted West Lothian Coun- cease to put out bird feed for a to go around the park borrowing ested talk to one of the commit- amongst the public and it is vital cil and a commercial pest con- tee. (sponsored by Park Homes period and the experts believe here and there. that the local council and elected trol officer. The general con- the rats will look elsewhere for Scotland Ltd) and runner-up representatives work with the Well here’s looking forward to a Another issue that many people £25 Garden Vouchers. sensus is that they are attracted another source of food. Please miss the maintenance of their NCC to help make residential by the many bird feeders in fact glorious summer. park homes a more accessible consider suspending bird homes. The Scottish climate is Full details will follow shortly. one rat was spotted actually on housing option and lifestyle. feeding for the moment . Tom and the Garden Team.

Page 6 THE WILLOW WOOD WAND ERER SPRING 2015 Page 3 Newsdesk 2 winter weather inhibits the ap- Nuisance calls... plication of the render and WWRA NEWS New Faces Some residents are still plagued Superfast Broadband... paint to the homes affected but the spruce-ups will be welcome with nuisance phone calls. Lo- New Faces, New Ideas and a New Policy... Work begins this summer to to the home owners concerned. cal Trading Standards advises: bring superfast broadband to Since the new Committee was elected at the last AGM the members have met some five times and Are you online?... Register with the Telephone three times this year alone. A new committee with new faces brings a fresh impetus to the Associa- the Stoneyburn telephone ex- Preference service 0845 070 0707 change. This improvement will tion’s business and the new committee is no exception. A new outreach digital learning Report nuisance call to your own ensure that local homes and service has been launched in First the new faces. Two ladies joined the committee, Linda Lennox at No 17 and Margaret Taylor a No 31. business will enjoy the kind of phone provider Linda is a business consultant and brings that knowledge and experience. Margaret Taylor, a long standing West Lothian. If you are not high speed internet access Change to an ex-directory num- resident has taken on working with Wilma Gault, the social convener in organising our social events. Donny which is the norm in cities. too sure about using a com- ber Woodmore from No 5 is an engineer by profession and Donny has brought a lot of vigour to the proceedings. Services like BT Infinity will puter or would like to learn, Other roles in the new set up are Mike Larkman as Policy Officer keeping us right with the local authority and Add Caller ID to your telephone follow these upgrades. From support is available. To find the Scottish Government. Tom Meiklejohn heads up the garden team, Susan Meiklejohn handles Secretary package ...or JUST HANG UP. July 2015 to December 2016 out more about how and where and Treasurer with Jim Haluch in the chair. work will be carried out at Ex- to access the service and the For many years successive committees have taken the view that the park owners are responsible for every- changes all over West Lothian SPRING SPRUCE-UPS courses available, call 0800 121 with Stoneyburn included in thing.; after all we pay our pitch fees. Bitter experience of two owners has proved that if we do not help our- selves then nothing will get done. The current committee have unanimously endorsed a self –help ethos and the first phase starting July 2015 4695. It is never too late to and completion expected in learn. are moving ahead with two projects — beautifying the septic tank area and making provision for snow clear- ance. Donny Woodmore is heading up these projects while Jim Haluch is chasing grant assistance. December this year. ‘Dial a Bus’ service... Others matters are reported elsewhere so see the snow plough article below, news of moves for a pedestrian Repainting of homes ... Now available twice a week crossing at Stoneyburn Cross and the WWRA diary on the front page of this edition. On which insulation works from Willow Wood. More de- were carried out last year has tails call Committee Member started at last. It seems the Margaret Taylor ( No 31) on Snow Plough Project 763912. Smart new paint job The Association committee are ac- tively seeking to buy a tractor snow- Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland: Cash back Scheme plough and a grit spreader in time for next winter, The Scottish Government is offering owner occupiers, including park home residents, a re- The move has been prompted by the park bate of up to £5,800 towards installing eligible energy efficiency measures for properties owners Court success over West Lothian that are in council tax bands A to C. Funding is divided into categories with up to £500 Council in the matter of snow clearance so available for installing a new boiler, up to £400 for insulation measures and up to £300 for we will have to help ourselves - but as we other measures like draught proofing or secondary glazing. For installations of solid wall are all a bit older, mechanisation insulation 75% of the total cost of the work, up to £4,500 is also available. Applicants who seems the way install at least one eligible measure and claim funding through the scheme are also entitled ahead. to a maximum of £100 towards the cost of their Green Deal Advice Report. The scheme is Donny Woodmore available on a first come, first served basis and is subject to available funding and is par- has researched the ticularly applicable to Willow Wood Residents who did not qualify for last year’s pro- options and as an engineer has been gramme of home insulation. able to advise the Work carried out under the scheme must be completed by an installer who is Green Deal committee on their options. certified specifically for the measure you wish to install. You can find a suitable installer A tractor, plough with grit spreader, road via the Green Deal Approved Register. sweeper and trailer will cost just under £5000 so this year’s fund raising, the coffee There are a number of easy steps to obtaining a Cash back voucher and it starts with a sim- mornings etc .will go towards a snow ple phone call to Home Energy Scotland. The Wanderer has contacted them and their ad- plough fund. The committee is actively ap- viser was very helpful and extremely knowledgeable. Call Home Energy Scotland on 0808 plying for grants to assist the campaign and an application has already been lodged with 808 2282. They can advise on all sources of funding and create a referral for the scheme. the Levenseat Trust with two more applica- tions being formulated.

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