A 22-year-old college pupil hopes to revive Bathgate Markets as quickly as subsequent month with a brand new community-focused pilot.
Lucy Lawson, hopes to placed on a brand new Bathgate Markets close to the city centre after the outdated one shut down in 2018 when the land proprietor moved to England.
Because the outdated location of the Bathgate Markets was became a retail house, a smaller location at Gardners Lane automotive park is ready for use to show idea to the council - which may lead to a brand new lease at a extra everlasting and presumably greater location within the city centre.
The soon-to-be college graduate is at present fundraising to open the brand new Bathgate markets because the council requires a number of insurance coverage and licensing charges to be paid.
If profitable, the market and automotive boot sale will likely be held each Saturday from 9:30am-2:30pm with round 40 dealer stalls - together with fruit & veg, butchers vans and ‘all of the stalls we love and keep in mind’.
The market would even have house for 20 automotive boot sellers to be used by locals.
Lucy grew up across the markets in Bathgate - getting the concept to restart them as a part of a college mission for Enterprise Research at Edinburgh Napier, the place she is going to graduate with an honours diploma in October.
The native enterprise pupil is launching the brand new Bathgate Markets as a ‘value-led firm’ which means a portion of income will likely be reinvested in local people pursuits - with native psychological well being help charity SMILE to profit as the primary charity sponsor.
Lucy mentioned: ”The entire concept of bringing again the markets took place from a uni mission - I wished to search out out why the outdated Bathgate markets shut down, and in my analysis I discovered that everybody actually missed it.
“It was at all times a neighborhood hub, and I wished to deliver again that vibrant really feel of a market city again to Bathgate.
“I’m hoping that finally we’ll be capable to transfer places as soon as we’ve proved idea to the council - I’ve bought my eye on the outdated prepare station, which might be accessible and proper within the city centre.
“I’d finally prefer to have markets in different places as nicely - I’d prefer to see if it might be doable in Livingston as nicely.
“I feel the markets are actually essential for the neighborhood, and never only for the merchants who typically should drive all the best way to England to make a revenue, having a spot to fulfill and browse may give the city centre the footfall it wants.”
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