Lovell helps deliver affordable watersports on ‘West Lothian Riviera’

Winchburgh Community Development Trust (WCDT) will deliver sessions in Scotland’s newest Marina – an offshoot of the Union Canal running between Edinburgh and the Falkirk Wheel – after attracting support from Winchburgh Developments Ltd., who lead the masterplan of the growing town, as well
as housebuilder Lovell and the Wheatley Foundation.

WCDT has used recent funding to purchase ten paddleboards as well as train seven new local instructors to deliver sessions on evenings and weekends from this summer.

“Since the Marina opened, Winchburgh Community Development Trust have been working in partnership with Winchburgh Developments to promote watersports there,” explained Leigh Lauder of WCDT. “Everything comes at a cost but we have found ways to make it affordable to people through funding and support from developers.

“The paddleboards are there for the entire community to use, and now we have our own instructors, we will be able to offer lessons at a subsidised rate. We couldn’t have done this without the support of Lovell, Wheatley Foundation and continued support from Winchburgh Developments. It’s a really good example of partnership working for the benefit of young people in our community, bringing confidence to children and important lessons about water safety.”

John Hamilton, CEO of Winchburgh Developments Ltd, said: “This is the third year we have supported Winchburgh Community Development Trust with the watersports programme, and we’re delighted to have housebuilders contributing to this growing initiative to enable many more young people and families to enjoy the Marina and the Union Canal that sits within our community.

“We would like to thank Lovell and The Wheatley Foundation for supporting the Trust and we were delighted to see Water Safety Scotland attend the launch and speak to the young people before they went on the water about the importance of having the knowledge of how to act should they get into trouble. We very much look forward to seeing a full summer’s worth of young people and families enjoying watersports here in Winchburgh.”

Winchburgh Marina was dubbed ‘the West Lothian Riviera’ when it was unveiled in May 2024 before 500 people, including 250 pupils from four local schools. The marina – located in Winchburgh’s emerging new town centre – can accommodate up to 20 narrowboats for tourists and residential berths, with plans for a further 29 moorings along the canal.

Tony Rankin, regional manager for Lovell in Scotland, said: “It’s fantastic to see this initiative at Winchburgh Marina come to life. At Lovell, we’re proud to be working in partnership with Winchburgh Developments, Wheatley and the Development Trust to support watersports in the area. It’s a great example of what can be achieved when partners come together to invest in their local community.

“We’re delivering around 170 new homes here in Winchburgh and we know many families may not have lived so close to water before. That’s why support from organisations like Water Safety Scotland is so important in helping people feel confident and safe.”

Lynne Mitchell, director of Wheatley Foundation, said: “This partnership allows local families to take part in activities right on their doorstep. By supporting these watersports sessions, the Foundation is helping make it easier for children and young people to get involved and try something new. We’re delighted to be part of a programme that will continue to grow, giving Wheatley residents the chance to get active, build confidence and learn new skills.”

In recent years, the Winchburgh development has reached several significant milestones including the opening of a new junction which provides a direct link to the M9 motorway, the development of Auldcathie District Park which runs through the heart of the community and now measures two-and-a-half times the size of Princes Street Gardens, a state-of-the-art school campus, Scotland’s newest marina (connected to the Union Canal) and attracting a big-name supermarket (Sainsbury’s) to the emerging town centre.