An iconic 1930s cinema building is set to be given an upgrade after winning funding from the Scottish Government.
Bathgate’s Regal Theatre is the main winner in the latest spending round of cash aid from the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Fund.
The Reconnect Regal Theatre group bid for £29,000 has been met after councillors on the town’s Local Area Committee agreed to change proposed funding plans.
The money will be spent upgrading and repainting the exterior of the iconic 1930s building.
Officers had suggested an award of just £23,000 for the theatre.
But councillors backed SNP member Willie Boyle’s concerns about funding for another project which would have seen public money going on structural repairs to two gable ends of buildings in the town.
That work had been proposed by the town’s Enterprising Bathgate group, made up of local businesses.
The group had wanted £18,000 for a range of works including improved street furniture and floral displays alongside the structural work on gables in The Steelyard, George Place and Hopetoun Lane.
Town centre manager, Nairn Pearson, said Enterprising Bathgate was looking at estimated costs of what would be “elements of stone work, building work and painting” required to make the gables safe.
Councillor Boyle said: “I have grave concerns over being seen to spend public money to renovate two private gables - for us as the Local Area Committee to spend public money on privately-owned buildings. This is the responsibility of the owners.”
His proposal to cut the Enterprising Bathgate award from £18,000 to £11,000 was accepted by fellow SNP member, Pauline Stafford, and Labour’s Tony Pearson.
Councillor Harry Cartmill, chair of the committee, had absented himself from the debate because he felt taking part represented a clash of interests.
The three remaining councillors also agreed that the balance remaining be divided between the Regal Theatre and the community council’s Town Centre Events fund – which was allocated another £6000 on top of the £5000 already recommended.
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