Masterplan to improve historic Falkirk park approved despite criticism from locals

A ten-year masterplan to improve and protect one of the Falkirk area’s most historic parks has been approved by councillors, despite criticism that it “lacks substance and needs more work”.

Falkirk Council say the masterplan provides a vision to develop the 76-hectare estate Kinneil Estate in Bo’ness, starting with a new play park and including major work on the woodland surrounding the estate.

But the charity Friends of Kinneil urged members of Falkirk Council’s executive not to approve the plan until there is more detail on how facilities, including toilets, will be provided.

Kinneil Estate is much loved as an outdoor space by Bo’ness residents.

However, it also has a heritage that stretches back to Roman times and is linked to major historical figures, including Mary, Queen of Scots, and the inventor James Watt.

It includes the 17th-century Kinneil House, which contains rare Renaissance wall paintings and is now managed by Historic Environment Scotland (HSE).

Kinneil Museum in Bo'ness — Kinneil Museum in Bo’ness LDRS

Friends of Kinneil believe that the estate has the potential to be a major magnet for tourists, adding to other local attractions, including Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway.

The estate also includes Kinneil Museum, which is owned by Falkirk Council but will close in March as part of the council’s ongoing property review, unless a third party agrees to take it over.

The council says that the masterplan has been shaped by consultation with local residents, community groups and others.

But Friends of Kinneil’s former chair, Ian Shearer, told the meeting that the consultation had shown quite clearly that the facilities in the visitor centre are needed “and should be an essential element of the plan”.

This week, a £200,000 upgrade to the playpark on the estate, funded by the Scottish Government, was widely welcomed.

Mr Shearer said: “With all the talk in the plan of new visitors, including at the new playpark, which we do think looks very good, where will they go to the toilet or get refreshments?”

He added that talks have been ongoing with Historic Environment Scotland and Museums Galleries Scotland to find a way forward for the museum, but they have not yet reached any conclusions.

Separately, “an impressive third-party investor” is “working up some serious proposals” for the currently empty main block of Kinneil House.

These proposals, he said, “could form the core of a much more inspiring ten-year plan than the one before you”.

He said that with so much still to be decided, councillors were effectively being asked to “endorse a ten-year visitor roadmap, whilst blindfolded as you set off and with little idea where the route is leading”.

Mr Shearer also criticised the lack of funding behind the plan, especially in light of imminent proposals for Callendar Park and the Helix Park, both in Falkirk.

But director of Place Services Malcolm Bennie told councillors that delaying the masterplan could jeopardise funding applications, including one to maintain and improve the woodlands.

He said that it had been ‘heavily consulted’ and that many different groups and individuals supported it.

Michael McGuinness, the council’s head of growth, planning and climate change, added that approving a plan would be helpful to any future transfer of the museum to a community group or organisation such as HES.

He said: “The plan gives certainty to any group who’s considering what’s going on across the estate, what other investments are going to be made, what other initiatives and opportunities are going on.”

At Thursday’s meeting, Labour councillor Siobhan Paterson’s bid to delay the approval of the masterplan was narrowly defeated, and councillors agreed to back the masterplan.