Community Enterprise was commissioned by Murieston Community Council to investigate the needs of local residents and produce a Community Action Plan, which was published in 2020. They delivered a summary action plan and more detailed research report.
As a result of the Community Action Plan, a group of local residents was brought together, with a view to creating a charity to deliver projects and take advantage of funding opportunities to improve the local area. Murieston Community Development Trust was established in July 2023. The first step was to develop a strategic plan for how to meet the needs expressed in the Community Action Plan, which resulted in a set of long-term goals listed here and a set of short-term priorities for projects to tackle first. Although these long-term goals are desirable, we need to start off slowly and focus first on things we can do in the short term with limited funds.
A further survey in 2024 reinforce the previous findings and obtained more detailed responses on some issues.
Vision
“We live in an attractive, safe and friendly place with good local social and sports amenities and a vibrant sense of community engagement, able to enjoy the best of both town and rural living and an enhanced quality of life for all residents”
The Great Outdoors
- Short term: Existing paths, litter picking
- Medium Term: Picnic area, trail information and signage, benches on trail, tree planting, environmental strategy
Amenities and Services
- Short Term: Pop-up cafe, station improvements, benches and planting at Bankton Centre
- Medium Term: Better paths to public transport, better parking, community library
Community Cohesion
- Short Term: More social events, more communication, encourage volunteering, help local groups
- Medium Term: more events for all (summer, Christmas), youth activities
Community Resources
- Short Term: Basic improvements to Village Hall
- Medium Term: A multi-use Community-owned Social and Arts Hub (accessible, eco-friendly, multi-use)
- Long Term: A multi-sport Community-owned Sports Hub
Health, Wellbeing & Opportunities
- Short Term: Advertise existing opportunities, support teen activities
- Medium Term: More activities for all, encourage active travel
- Long Term: Extend the paths network