Beautifying Blackridge - celebrating the work of the Community Council
Blackridge Community Council has been at the forefront of attempts to increase civic pride and attract and retain residents by beautifying the village, fuelled by funding from the Blackridge Community Fund.
Blackridge is an ex-mining community located on the periphery of West Lothian between Glasgow and Edinburgh in central Scotland. Historically, whilst the small town had functional basics like pavements, streetlighting and standard road signs, it lacked vibrancy and local character. The area’s heritage was not well celebrated, and the area’s Community Action Plan (2017) identified community aspirations to enhance the local environment, with improvements such as floral enhancements and upgrading the streetscape, pavements and pathways.
The Blackridge Community Fund offered an opportunity to help fulfill these aspirations. Combining community benefit funding from three local wind farms, the Blackridge Community Fund is managed and administered by Foundation Scotland in partnership with the community. The Blackridge Community Fund Panel, made up of local residents, makes all decisions about the fund objectives, criteria and awards.
The Community Council started small, with a £250 grant awarded by the Panel from the Blackridge Community Fund in 2016 to re-plant eight local planters on the verge of the footpath leading to the area’s newly established railway station. 2018 saw the Panel award £2,000 from the Fund to lay a commemorative paving stone and produce a booklet honouring local Victoria Cross recipient James Crichton.
2019 and 2020 saw the Blackridge Community Fund Panel award further grants to install and replenish hanging baskets, planters, verges and small plots, alongside the installation/repair of street furniture and pavement bollards.
From 2021 onwards, the Blackridge Community Fund Panel and Foundation Scotland supported the Community Council to consider longer-term plans and receive multi-year, recurring awards for the wide range of plantings, replenishments and watering required to maintain the vibrancy all year round in multiple locations across the town.
In total, Blackridge Community Council has been awarded £45k from the Blackridge Community Fund towards village enhancements over the last eight years. All three wind farms have contributed, with £31k from the Torrance wind farm community benefit funding provided by Gresham House. The remainder comes from the Burnhead Moss community benefit funds (provided by EDF Renewables) and Harthill Wind Farm (provided by Netro Energy).
Over this period, increasing numbers of volunteers have taken part in planting and replenishment activities, and the village aesthetic has been improved beyond recognition. Residents frequently offer positive feedback to Community Councillors regarding the village’s improved appearance, emphasising the increased pride and feelings of wellbeing because of the ongoing activity. All the area's 2,000 residents and visitors benefit from the magnificent volunteer efforts spearheaded by the Community Council.
Click here to find out more about the Blackridge Community Fund.