Monday June 8th 2026
Uphall Community Centre
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Stuart Sommerville
An evangelical church hopes to boost usage of a village community centre after taking the keys two months ago.
Kings Church West Lothian took on the lease of Uphall Community centres as an asset transfer
West Lothian Council’s Asset Transfer Committee approved the lease after assurances from the church on running costs.
Local councillor Mike Carlin remained cautious about the transfer and long term running costs but, after the meeting, wished the group well.
There was controversy at the outset when no-one from the church attended an initial meeting of the Asset Transfer Committee to answer councillors’ questions.
There was further controversy when local Labour councillor Tony Boyle was accused of making comments against the church taking control of the building.
Councillor Boyle rejected the accusation and denied these comments were made but he recused himself from a second meeting of the committee, which heard from Mr Rouse, in the interests of fairness.
After that second meeting Councillor Carlin told the LDRS: “I share the ambition to see Uphall Community Centre become a thriving and accessible space for the community. Strong and sustainable planning will be key to its long-term success.”
Cllr Carlin reviewed the application and business plan, focusing on financial planning and risk. He emphasised the importance of clear and robust foundations to support long-term sustainability, while recognising the shared vision for the Community Centre.
The Committee approved the transfer following a motion by Cllr Craig Meek, seconded by Cllr Alison Adamson.
Gordon Rouse, from the church, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We were delighted that West Lothian Council approved the Community Asset Transfer of ownership of Uphall Community Centre to Uphall Community Trust with Kings Church West Lothian for £1, subject to the legal transfer being completed.”
Under the current lease, Kings Church West Lothian is hosting the centre on behalf of the new charity until that process is finalised.
Mr Rouse added: “The first two months have been really encouraging. Our main aim was to keep the centre open, make the transition as smooth as possible, and begin building towards a centre that is open to more people, for more of the time. Our community has totally stepped up to the challenge.
“In April and May, the centre had an average usage rate of 22%. We are pleased to see an increase in the number of groups using the centre, including new regular community groups, one-off community bookings, and personal bookings.
“Across those first two months, we provided space for more than 3,500 people to attend activities focused on community, connection and growth.
“We were pleased to work with the existing management team to offer significant support to groups, ensuring they could continue their vital community activities through the transition, and we will be able to provide this support again. We have also seen a marked increase in volunteer hours, with volunteers and staff working hard to make sure the centre is welcoming, accessible and well-run.”
Mr Rouse said: “We know there has been a lot of public interest in the transfer, and together we care deeply about the future of the centre. Our focus now is continuing to thrive: welcoming existing and new users, supporting local groups, and helping Uphall Community Centre continue to grow as a shared space.”
The church has also launched a news page on its website: https://uphallcommunitycentre.org.uk/page/news
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