Bid to save west lothian oap café fails as councillors reject call to step in

A MEETING OF THE FULL COUNCIL VOTED DOWN A MOTION FROM THE SNP’S WILLIE BOYLE TO INTERVENE IN PLANS TO CLOSE THE CAFE IN ROSEMOUNT GARDENS IN BATHGATE. 11:57, 21 May 2025 A plea by a

Bathgate councillor for West Lothian Council to intervene in plans to shut a pensioner’s cafe has failed. A meeting of the full council voted down a motion from the SNP’s Willie Boyle to

intervene in plans to close the cafe in Rosemount Gardens in Bathgate. Councillor Boyle said the proposed savings “don’t add up” given that four council staff would be moved to other posts.

“Where’s the savings?”, he said. READ MORE: Poorest areas in West Lothian being hit hardest by cost of living crisis as debts rise Councillor Boyle first tabled his motion to the last

meeting of the full council where it was ruled as inadmissible. He took it back to Tuesday’s meeting unchanged. In it he referred to the opening of the Rosemount Gardens complex in 2017

saying: “The delivery of this accommodation offered so much to people who gave up homes to take up residence.” The cafe is “at the heart” of this development, he maintained, asking that the

council write to the Integration Joint Board raising concerns about closure plans. He added that the complex provided : “A new home that would provide them with facilities to meet their

perceived needs and hope for their future. A building that is a focal point for the community and has become a valued hub serving a wider need.” READ MORE: West Lothian bus company’s charity

partner will have pride of place on specially designed double decker Councillor Boyle said that a campaign group had pointed out that the cafe had only every operated as a break even

operation and that staff were keen to work with the IJB to look at ways in which the cafe could stay open. An amendment from Councillor Tom Conn, who also chairs the IJB said: “A report will

be provided to the IJB on 26 June 2025 to specify whether or not a viable option has been identified for delivery of cafe facilities within Rosemount Gardens complex.” He pointed to the

£8.6m budget gap in social care to 2027/28 and suggested that the council should instead write to the Scottish Government asking for social care to be better funded. Councillor Boyle told

the meeting “Look at the human element behind this decision. The cost that’s crippling this cafe is because four full time equivalent employees work for West Lothian Council. Given that this

council has a no redundancy policy where is the actual cost saving. READ MORE: Praise for West Lothian teenager Jak's lasting legacy from cabinet secretaries “It doesn’t add up, and

that’s how the public are looking at it. “Where is the savings? It’s a paper exercise and people could lose vital services because of it. Let’s put the politics aside.” Councillor Boyle’s

motion was voted down by 17 to 14, with one abstention. Article continues below DON'T MISS THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE WEST LOTHIAN COURIER. SIGN UP TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER HERE.