Too many cars and too few buses are the common complaints identified in a survey of West Lothian’s traditional town centres.
A council survey had asked communities what they thought was needed for the future.
It brought significant suggestions such as a new hotel on the M9 near Linlithgow as a way of improving tourism and making the town a tourist base for the area.
But it was clear that few lasting improvements will come unless the fundamentals of transport- to travel to West Lothian as well as around it - can be sorted out.
West Lothian council’s Economic Development team launched the survey in November looking at the four traditional towns of Bathgate, Linlithgow, Armadale and Broxburn and Uphall.
An in depth study spoke to local shopkeepers and community groups such as community councils as well as councillors for each area.
Poor bus services were identified in all towns both connecting to communities outwith town and from housing areas in the town such Wester Inch in Bathgate and housing areas around Broxburn.
Already identified as a way ahead for the council, Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE) was identified as a way of improving access and use of facilities in towns from Linlithgow to Armadale.
The parking problems were identified in the Whitburn study as acute. The report described some responses: “The lack of Police Scotland parking enforcement and visibility in community compounds as issue.
“Car vehicle dominant society, need to consider what changes can be made to reduce conflicts and offer a more pedestrian friendly and active travel options within, and connecting to, town centres.”
Bathgate too was described as “a car vehicle dominated streetscape.”
Respondents added: “The town of Bathgate is changing and there is a need to embrace change and start planning for the future.”
Some councillors had called for a bold rethink on what town centres are used. Councillor Stuart Borrowman cautioned beforehand that we “need to stop thinking old money” about restoring town centres to the way they had been in the 1960’s.
The call for a recognition that high streets had moved from sales to services was taken on by some in the survey but there was still widespread feeling that too many centres are dominated by small service businesses such as hairdressers.
A response common in all four towns was summed up by Broxburn: “There was an acknowledgement that out of town and online retailing are not going away, and that town centres should pivot towards a more mixed-use future - focusing on facilities for leisure and ‘experience’ type businesses such as pottery/crafts.”
At a recent meeting of the the Economy Community Empowerment and Wealth Building Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel, there were mixed responses to the review from councillors.
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