Thursday March 26th 2026
Lucy, Christine, Tina and Andy say the Bridgend Larder provides much more than food to villagers. The volunteers have made friends and the weekly store has seen a growing number of customers as the stores breaks down social isolation (photo by Councillor Pauline Orr)
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Stuart Sommerville
The food hub established in Bridgend may escape hefty charges in the shake up of management at West Lothian’s community centres.
Councillors in Linlithgow were given assurances that council regeneration staff would work with the volunteers.
Chair of the Linlithgow Local Area Committee, Councillor Sally Pattle, told Regeneration Team leader Dougie Grierson the larder team need more than “here’s a website”.
The Larder which runs in the village community centre was re-established last September and quickly built up a loyal following offering food at reasonable prices as well as helping to regenerate community spirit in the village.
Councillor Pauline Orr said villagers feared that the Larder would have to close because they would not be able to pay the new letting charges imposed next month.
The community centre, along with many in the county will be run directly by the council from next month, and user groups will face a hike in room hiring costs.
Councillor Orr said: “The charges will impact the food hub at the community centre. There are concerns about that. It is going to be about £200 to £250 a month that they are going to have to find for that.”
Councillor Orr said she had already heard from some groups who would not be able to pay the fees and she asked if officers could reconsider the fees at Bridgened for the Larder. “It is going to be a considerable hit for Bridgend the larder is also a community and social hub. It could have a real negative impact.
Councillor Tom Conn told the meeting that he had sought assurances on potential exemptions at a recent meeting of the Economy Community Empowerment and Wealth Building PDSP adding: “I did highlight the situation that it seemed quite a negative regarding the council’s anti-poverty strategy, and I asked if there could be an action by officers to exempt charities.”
Marjory Mackie, the lead officer of the local area committee reminded councillors that decisions on the future of all community centres had been supported by all councillors at the budget setting meeting.
Councillor Pattle said: “I definitely think this an area that possibly has not been anticipated as we move into the transition of the community centre review. Officers have assured me that if there’s a group like the they are more than happy to signpost them to other avenues of funding. I know that officers are more than happy to engage with the or any group which approaches them.
Mr Grierson said the council website had a page signposting groups to potential funding sources.
Councillor Pattle said: “My understanding and expectation will be that officers will do a bit more than say ‘here’s a website’. Groups like the Larder going to need a lot more assistance than that. We are coming up to a bumpy transition period.
At previous local area committee meetings councillors heard the Larder now serves more than 40 customers a week.
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