People in a West Lothian village want to “reclaim” land they say was gifted to them by the granddaughter of James Paraffin Young but has been earmarked for more housing.
West Lothian Council which owns the land in Polbeth – on the site of the former West Calder High School – is selling it to a housebuilder after the school was demolished.
However, Polbeth Community Council wants to use the land to build an energy farm producing enough energy to power 500 homes in the village to help with the current cost of living crisis.
The land is part of the Limefield Estate, once home to James Paraffin Young.
Members say they have seen the will of Paraffin Young’s granddaughter, Alice Thom, and say the land was bequeathed to the people of Polbeth.
Terry Daly, who is on the community council explained: “We’ve been talking about the land for four years and originally the aim of the project was to protect the land and keep it open because of the heritage and there’s a lot of history on the land.
“The first idea we had was allotments and then after discussions we decided an energy farm would be more beneficial to the people of Polbeth.
“Four years ago we were thinking more about the environment and of course now we’ve got the energy crisis.”
Terry said the community council had researched the Polbeth and Limefield House at Linlithgow’s Local History Library and it was then that they found Alice’s will.
He continued: “In 1953 Alice Thom made a gift to the people of Polbeth of about 33 acres and Limefield House and the surrounding areas and entrusted it to the council.
“There is some argument about whether the playing fields were part of the 33 acres.
“The council has sold the land to housing developers and Limefield House was turned into a care home and then it was sold to private ownership.
“Limefield Mains, which was a really beautiful stable was also sold into private ownership, so all of the land Alice Thom gifted has disappeared and we’re saying this is an opportunity to get some of it back for the people of Polbeth. The community council has launched an online ‘climate pledge’ petition and letter of support for their wind farm proposal and want everyone in the community to back it.
A spokesperson for West Lothian Council stressed the local authority legally owns the land.
He continued: “This land forms an important part of the council’s capital receipt disposal programme which means that its sale will help to fund future investment in local services.
“When the council sells unused land, proceeds from the sale help to fund investment in infrastructure projects such as schools, parks, roads and care services for vulnerable people.
“The sale of unused land is therefore an important funding stream that allows us to continue to invest in services for local people.
“Council officers are happy to have discussions with any community representatives in West Lothian to consider proposals which would involve many different factors, including availability of suitable land.”
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