Balloch Village Square officially opened

The project was first identified in the Balloch charrette in 2016 where members of the community recognised an opportunity to make more of the space in front of the Moss O’ Balloch as an active centre of the village.

A series of consultation events were held during the development of the project to consider improvement options for the square. We would like to thank everyone who took part in all these consultation events as the feedback and comments that were received really helped to shape the final design of the project.

Works began in January 2019 and delivered a new and improved civic space, built with quality materials including granite setts and Caithness stone, along with new ‘street furniture’ such as raised tables and bicycle storage to create a sense of place, now befitting activities such as seasonal markets or performances.

The works also delivered:

• Wider sections of paving in key locations to enhance the space and provide opportunities for additional seating areas;
• A series of traffic calming measures including a narrower carriage way to discourage illegal parking; and
• Upgrading of footways leading from the project area to the entrance to Balloch Country Park and to the Balloch Bridge.

A key feature of the improved space is the reinstated fountain commemorating a famous Balloch boat hirer. The feature, which is dedicated to Henry Thomas Lynn, was returned following feedback from community members including Mr Lynn’s great granddaughter Isobel Martin during the consultation events.

Also within the project are inscriptions that were created by local school children from Balloch Primary and St Kessogs. The two schools worked together to produce a number of phrases which are etched into the pavement including ‘Be Brilliant at Balloch, the Bonniest place to Be.’

The family of Mr Lynn and pupils from the two schools also joined the official opening, along with representatives from West Dunbartonshire Council, the National Park Authority and Balloch and Haldane Community Council.