Timetable for Linlithgow Vennel work

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 1960’s 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 Cllr 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 the High Street, and by his Conservative colleague, local councillor and 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 welcomed the report.

He 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 we have had a length of time of false starts and I think the process set in train by this report will start the redevelopment. I think people just want to see something happening.”