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WILLOW WOOD PARK

Willow Wood Park comprises a high quality bungalow style estate, targeted at retired and semi retired householders which began developing in 2003.   The development has essentially created a modern village of 40 households where a caravan site existed previously.  The Community has come together over recent years, to embrace the concept of a sustainable community and to demonstrate the residents’ wish to interact, to care for and assist each other and to embrace the concept of self help.

 

The members of the Community were anxious also to engage with local, statutory and other bodies to explore ideas for community enhancement and involvement and particularly to pilot new ideas where this unique setting and community might be appropriate.  This aspiration saw fruition in a residents association, Willow Wood Residents Association (WWRA) and a community Company to take forward the community's interests


The concept of permanent park home living is relatively new to Scotland although holiday home parks are numerous.  South of the border this is an accepted way of life which has long lost the ‘caravan site’ tag.  The factory built nature of the housing and the ability to easily adapt homes prior to construction has proved a boon to residents with special needs.  The dwellings are all single storey, easily adapted to disabled access and use and the nature of an enclosed, gated, community allows easy access to neighbours without the threat of through traffic.

 

Residents of the community are already utilising these advantages and the Community Body see this way of life as a potential way forward for other Scottish communities and even as a potential solution to mainstream housing requirements and inclusivity.  At Willow Wood, two members who have special mobility needs are already experiencing the enhancement of their opportunity for independent living within the Community. Community ownership will maintain and expand the current energy shown by the residents who are cohesive, enthusiastic, and concerned about their future and their environment.



Lending a Hand
Lending a Hand
Disability does not stop Diana McGovern doing her bit painting the garden fence!
Rural Setting
Rural Setting
Willow Wood is surrounded on four sides by open land with views to the North over the Ochil Hills, East to the Pentland Hills and South and West over the Breich Valley
Community Spirit
Community Spirit
Locals share a little community 'spirit' to celebrate the opening of the community garden in August 2008
Willow Wood is now at the stage where the residents feel that they are best placed to take control of their own destiny. 

Taking advantage of the Community Right to Buy provisions of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, the Residents Association formed a community company to pursue their dream of self determination.  The Company, the 'community body', was successful in securing registration of a Right to Buy in 2006. 

Recently, the landowner had indicated a willingness to sell and the company was pursuing a possible buyout of the park through the provisions of the Act.  The landowner pulled out of the deal in October 2008 but we are still pusruing our objective by completing our applications for funding. 
 
This website is part of our campaign and it will keep you up to date with developments over the coming months as we strive for our target of owning Willow Wood outright by Spring of 2009.
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Big Lottery Fund Scotland
Developoment Trusts Association Scotland
Willow Wood West Lothian Community Company