On behalf of the board of Enterprising Bathgate I would like to take this opportunity to thank the businesses in the Bathgate BID area for their support over the past 18 months.

The Bathgate Business Improvement District (BID) is the most successful BID area in Scotland in terms of delivering the projects highlighted by you in our survey carried out at the end of 2007. We have developed a strong working partnership with West Lothian Council over the past few years and the success of this relationship has been the backbone of our success. In these difficult times for businesses throughout the country, Bathgate is continuing to develop its identity as a traditional town with a diversity of services other similar sized towns in Scotland envy.

Clearly there’s still much to do, for example we would like to see every available unit in the town open for business. In this financial climate Bathgate has suffered losing some of its traders similar to many towns in the country. However, Enterprising Bathgate and West Lothian Council will make every effort in assisting companies to set up their business in the town.

The car parking in the town is a problem just now, this is almost solely due to Scotrail closing its car parks adjacent to the present rail station and consequently, commuters forced to use other car parks in the town as a Park and Ride facility. The new rail station is due to be open in September 2010 where ample car parking provision will be provided. In the meantime in conjunction with our Council colleagues we are actively looking at other ways to alleviate this problem.

We believe Bathgate has still plenty to offer the area despite a recession that has seen major banks and well known multi nationals brought to their knee’s and in some cases shutting up shop all together. The challenge to every business is clear to see and we in Enterprising Bathgate will try and assist our town’s businesses as best we can.

David Stein, Chairman of Enterprising Bathgate