5 days ago
Family tie to Old Bakery revealed during visit to discovery centre site in West Lothian
The major refurbishment has been backed by more than £5.5 million of funding
Angela Constance MSP was joined by Scotland's Minister for Employment and Business Tom Arthur on a visit to a 'hugely inspiring' project in West Lothian.
The Almond Valley MSP admitted the Scottish Co-operative Discovery Centre is a place close to her heart.
She revealed during the visit that her late grandmother once worked in at the Old Bakery in West Calder, now home to the discovery centre.
The Old Bakery, which is undergoing a major refurbishment backed by more than £5.5 million of funding, has already made significant progress on-site and plays a vital role in the community's regeneration plans.
The project previously received £1.4 million from the Scottish Government's Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) via West Lothian Council and continues to seek further support to complete the full fit-out and maximise community outcomes.
The Scottish Government has made clear its commitment to supporting place-based regeneration projects like this, recognising the social and economic value they bring to communities across Scotland.
During the visit, trustees of the Scottish Co-operative Discovery Centre discussed the ongoing development of the site and explored further opportunities for investment through the reopened RCGF programme and the Place Based Investment Fund.
Angela Constance MSP said: 'It was a real pleasure to return to the Old Bakery in West Calder, especially as it holds such a personal connection for me. My granny worked here many years ago, and to see it transformed into a vibrant community project is truly heartening.
'The Scottish Co-operative Discovery Centre is an inspiring example of community wealth building, democratic enterprise and local regeneration. I was very pleased to join Minister Tom Arthur to see the great progress being made and to listen to the ambitions for the next stages of the project.'
