{"id":55,"date":"2024-03-18T16:47:45","date_gmt":"2024-03-18T16:47:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bathgatemeadows.org\/?page_id=55"},"modified":"2025-01-08T15:50:53","modified_gmt":"2025-01-08T15:50:53","slug":"news","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bathgatemeadows.org\/?page_id=55","title":{"rendered":"Project Overview"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bathgate Meadows Nature Park is an ambitious partnership project which will connect communities with the environment whilst keeping sustainability, net zero and climate change mitigation at its heart.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"390\" src=\"https:\/\/bathgatemeadows.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/West-Inch-lakes-1024x390.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-377\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bathgatemeadows.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/West-Inch-lakes-980x374.jpg 980w, https:\/\/bathgatemeadows.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/West-Inch-lakes-480x183.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Location and Background<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Bathgate Meadows Nature Park (BMNP) site is located between a 144-hectare housing development with 2,000 residential properties and Bathgate Town Centre. The site has been impacted over the years by industries that have come and gone from mining, to ironworks and finally vehicle manufacturing.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Bog Burn flows through the heart of Bathgate but for large sections of its length it is hidden from view and inaccessible for the community. The watercourse has been heavily degraded over the years through human intervention and no longer supports the aquatic life it could.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bathgate has been identified as a regeneration area in West Lothian due to its relatively low socio-economic status. One of the identified priorities in Bathgate is to improve accessibility and connectivity, including safe options for walking and cycling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The project aims to address the issues above by helping the Bog Burn become a functional part of the landscape and environment again. Restoring the river will bring it back to the local community and improve its ability to support a range of functions from helping manage surface water run-off, restoring natural processes to supporting a wider variety of local wildlife.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is a five year multi-million-pound project that creates multiple environmental benefits for nature, people and heritage and bring life back into the area.&nbsp; The project is at the heart of the community, so their aspirations must be the main focus in its development.&nbsp; The project\u2019s success will bring multiple environmental benefits and bring life back into the area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What will be delivered:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sustainability: The project will seek to have net zero, sustainability and climate change mitigation at its heart.\u202f At every stage of the project from design to works we will look for opportunities to embed sustainability principles, manage and minimise carbon throughout the project lifecycles (whole life carbon). We will seek to develop a project design which aims to achieve sustainable outcomes during the works phase including, but not limited to, the re-use and recycling of materials, reduced use of \u2018high carbon\u2019 materials and have low energy methods of construction.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Accessibility to all &#8211; The project will open opportunity for those relying on car to use a sustainable alternative.&nbsp; It will provide a safer, more attractive alternative to those dependent on a car to commute to nearby communities and the railway station.&nbsp; It will also remove the barrier to people living in deprived socio-economic areas by providing accessibility to all.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Community Engagement \u2013 The community engagement, that has already taken place, has been a key factor in the development of the project to date.&nbsp; This engagement highlighted the communities\u2019 desire for improvements that will benefit the natural environment and active travel.&nbsp; A masterplan will be developed that will put the community at its heart by developing the ideas of the community, focusing on its aspirations.&nbsp; It will also include the aspiration of the project of; river restoration, community stewardship, sustainable travel and larger urban-rural green networks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Create a green heart \u2013 By creating better-quality amenity and green space, with improved pathways, walking routes and play areas, increased community engagement and creation of community art installations.&nbsp; This will help secure a greater level of community awareness and better stewardship of the environment.&nbsp; The project will create social and economic benefits for surrounding communities, some of which are amongst the most deprived in Scotland.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Economic productivity \u2013 Ensure that the project supports local businesses during delivery and engenders a sense of stewardship on completion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Improve river corridor \u2013 Restoration and improvements to the river corridor to create a more natural environment, which is more resilient and supports a wider range of native species.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Low carbon \u2013 The provision of an improved path network through and beyond the main area of the project will allow people to make informed active travel choices.&nbsp; It can encourage a modal shift from journeys made by car to walking, cycling and scooting by offering a safe, convenient, effective and direct travel network for journeys to schools, places of work, the town centre and railway station.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Partnership Model \u2013 engage and work collectively throughout, with all partners to find new ways to develop and deliver an inspiring project, which empowers the community and local delivery agencies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Water innovation &#8211; Consider surface water management and find innovative ways to manage water in the area, improving its quality and reducing flood risk.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;To deliver this, a flexible programme of works will be required, which can enable delivery of the vision in a way which supports local businesses and takes advantage of both small and medium enterprises, the third-sector and both private and public funding.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bathgate Meadows Nature Park is an ambitious partnership project which will connect communities with the environment whilst keeping sustainability, net zero and climate change mitigation at its heart.&nbsp; Location and Background The Bathgate Meadows Nature Park (BMNP) site is located between a 144-hectare housing development with 2,000 residential properties and Bathgate Town Centre. The site [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":85,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":1} -->\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h1>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Bathgate Meadows Nature Park is an ambitious partnership project which will connect communities with the environment whilst keeping sustainability, net zero and climate change mitigation at its heart.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":377,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/bathgatemeadows.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/West-Inch-lakes-1024x390.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-377\"\/><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong>Location and Background<\/strong><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The Bathgate Meadows Nature Park (BMNP) site is located between a 144-hectare housing development with 2,000 residential properties and Bathgate Town Centre. The site has been impacted over the years by industries that have come and gone from mining, to ironworks and finally vehicle manufacturing.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The Bog Burn flows through the heart of Bathgate but for large sections of its length it is hidden from view and inaccessible for the community. The watercourse has been heavily degraded over the years through human intervention and no longer supports the aquatic life it could.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Bathgate has been identified as a regeneration area in West Lothian due to its relatively low socio-economic status. One of the identified priorities in Bathgate is to improve accessibility and connectivity, including safe options for walking and cycling.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The project aims to address the issues above by helping the Bog Burn become a functional part of the landscape and environment again. Restoring the river will bring it back to the local community and improve its ability to support a range of functions from helping manage surface water run-off, restoring natural processes to supporting a wider variety of local wildlife.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>This is a five year multi-million-pound project that creates multiple environmental benefits for nature, people and heritage and bring life back into the area.&nbsp; The project is at the heart of the community, so their aspirations must be the main focus in its development.&nbsp; The project\u2019s success will bring multiple environmental benefits and bring life back into the area. <\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>What will be delivered:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Sustainability: The project will seek to have net zero, sustainability and climate change mitigation at its heart.\u202f At every stage of the project from design to works we will look for opportunities to embed sustainability principles, manage and minimise carbon throughout the project lifecycles (whole life carbon). We will seek to develop a project design which aims to achieve sustainable outcomes during the works phase including, but not limited to, the re-use and recycling of materials, reduced use of \u2018high carbon\u2019 materials and have low energy methods of construction.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Accessibility to all - The project will open opportunity for those relying on car to use a sustainable alternative.&nbsp; It will provide a safer, more attractive alternative to those dependent on a car to commute to nearby communities and the railway station.&nbsp; It will also remove the barrier to people living in deprived socio-economic areas by providing accessibility to all.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Community Engagement \u2013 The community engagement, that has already taken place, has been a key factor in the development of the project to date.&nbsp; This engagement highlighted the communities\u2019 desire for improvements that will benefit the natural environment and active travel.&nbsp; A masterplan will be developed that will put the community at its heart by developing the ideas of the community, focusing on its aspirations.&nbsp; It will also include the aspiration of the project of; river restoration, community stewardship, sustainable travel and larger urban-rural green networks.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Create a green heart \u2013 By creating better-quality amenity and green space, with improved pathways, walking routes and play areas, increased community engagement and creation of community art installations.&nbsp; This will help secure a greater level of community awareness and better stewardship of the environment.&nbsp; The project will create social and economic benefits for surrounding communities, some of which are amongst the most deprived in Scotland.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Economic productivity \u2013 Ensure that the project supports local businesses during delivery and engenders a sense of stewardship on completion.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Improve river corridor \u2013 Restoration and improvements to the river corridor to create a more natural environment, which is more resilient and supports a wider range of native species.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Low carbon \u2013 The provision of an improved path network through and beyond the main area of the project will allow people to make informed active travel choices.&nbsp; It can encourage a modal shift from journeys made by car to walking, cycling and scooting by offering a safe, convenient, effective and direct travel network for journeys to schools, places of work, the town centre and railway station.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Partnership Model \u2013 engage and work collectively throughout, with all partners to find new ways to develop and deliver an inspiring project, which empowers the community and local delivery agencies.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Water innovation - Consider surface water management and find innovative ways to manage water in the area, improving its quality and reducing flood risk.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&nbsp;To deliver this, a flexible programme of works will be required, which can enable delivery of the vision in a way which supports local businesses and takes advantage of both small and medium enterprises, the third-sector and both private and public funding.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-55","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bathgatemeadows.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/55","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bathgatemeadows.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bathgatemeadows.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bathgatemeadows.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bathgatemeadows.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=55"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/bathgatemeadows.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/55\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":381,"href":"https:\/\/bathgatemeadows.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/55\/revisions\/381"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bathgatemeadows.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/85"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bathgatemeadows.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=55"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}