Polmont

Polmont is a village in the Falkirk council area of Central Scotland. It lies towards the east of the town of Falkirk, north of the Union Canal, which runs adjacent to the village.

Given its centralized situation, many locations can be seen from Polmont. These include the Ochil Hills, the River Forth, Wallace Monument and Cairnpapple Hill. The people of Polmont are referred to as Polmonters.

History

The name Polmont derives from the Scottish Gaelic word Poll-Mhonaidh, which translates as Pool of the Hill.

Old Polmont, situated on a raised beach overlooking the Firth of Forth and the Ochils, was an important fort on the Roman Antonine Wall. This fort, embankment and water source has been marked out and can be visited in a secluded forest, close to the M9 motorway. Also of historical interest is the Culdees circle situated on the corner of Gilston Crescent, and still clearly visible.

The newer, modern Polmont has developed mainly from the 1970s with the Gilston Estate, and further up towards the railway and station, just before the adjoining Brightons settlement.

Polmont has prospered and is currently a commuter settlement with enviable motorway and train links to Glasgow and Edinburgh, which has pushed the housing count, values and social class up.

Polmont was originally included within the parish of Falkirk, but was severed under the authority of the Court of Teinds (teind is the Scots word for tithe), and erected into an independent parish, in 1724. Very few particulars of its early history have been recorded, though undoubtedly it must have participated more or less with Falkirk in the wars between the Romans and the Caledonians under Fergus II, and in many important transactions subsequently.

Until within the last few years vestiges of the wall of Antoninus, or Graham's Dyke, as it has generally been called since the time of Robert Graham, who was killed by the Romans while fighting under Fergus, could be distinctly traced in its way through the parish from the Firth of Forth to the Firth of Clyde; but in the progress of cultivation within the present century, they have been totally obliterated. On a hill beyond the village of Redding is a stone called Wallace's stone, marking out the spot from which Sir William Wallace, after his quarrel with Sir John Stuart, one of the Scottish chiefs, is said to have viewed the battle of Falkirk, from which he had been compelled to retire, and to have witnessed the defeat of the Scottish army.

The title of Lord Polmont is held by the current Duke of Hamilton, Angus Douglas-Hamilton. This title was originally given to the 2nd Duke of Hamilton in 1639.

Geography

Polmont is located approximately 4 miles (6.5 km) to the east of Falkirk, Scotland. Old Polmont village borders the town of Grangemouth, whilst from the east, Linlithgow is around 4 miles away. The local settlements of Redding, Brightons and Westquarter are also bordered. The M9 motorway, linking Edinburgh and Glasgow, runs through the village at the point between Old Polmont and the modern settlement. Polmont railway station is located on the main Edinburgh to Glasgow railway line.

File:MalcolmNicol.jpg

Malcolm Nicol, Councillor of Polmont

Politics

Polmont is under the jurisdiction of Falkirk Council, although the suggestion of East Polmont changing hands for the purposes of the Westminster Parliamentary Constituency to Linlithgow and East Falkirk arose, but was soon discounted [1]. In 2007, the Polmont area will merge as part of an expanded Lower Braes seat, as proposed for Falkirk Council by the Scottish Executive. Traditionally, the Conservative Party have strong support in Polmont, making it one of the main Tory areas in the Falkirk Parliamentary Constituency

The current representative of Polmont is Scottish Conservative Councillor Malcolm Nicol [2], who has held the role since 2000 following the death of previous Councillor Frank Hodge [3]. He previously represented a seat in Grangemouth, originally being elected in 1983. He has the distinction of having held both seats with the largest majority on Falkirk Council. He serves as a Justice of the Peace, chairman of the Falkirk Licensing Board for liquor and gaming license permits, and as Convenor of Civic Licensing on Falkirk Council. He is also a member of Central Scotland Police Board.

Economy

The economy of Polmont is based mainly upon relatively small scale private enterprise, such as pubs, cafes, hotels, take-aways and convenience stores. The majority of these are based in or around Polmont Shopping Centre, the focal point of local custom. Agriculture is also a central industry, with arable land consuming a sizeable proportion of the area.

Proposals to build an extensive new development, including offices, car showrooms, garden centres and more housing on the site of Gilston Farm on the far east have planning permission, although this consent expires in February 2007. There has been ample local opposition to the plan, and subsequent attempts by the construction developer, Hansteen Holdings PLC [4] to update the consent have been continually and unanimously refused by Falkirk Council - with united opposition being led by Councillor Malcolm Nicol, the Community Council and local residents.

Due to the proximity to Grangemouth, a decent number of the population work at the Grangemouth refineries and port. Many commute on a daily basis to work in Falkirk, Glasgow and Edinburgh, amongst other surrounding areas. Many people associate Polmont with the Young Offenders Institution (HMYOI) [5], although this is a common misconception as it is actually based in both nearby villages Brightons and Reddingmuirhead. Polmont is home to the Scottish Education Services, located at McLaren House in Haypark Business Centre. The hotel sector plays an important role, as many tourists visiting Scotland use Polmont as their resort due to its centralization and transport links. The most well known hotel is the 4-star Macdonald Inchyra Grange [6], redeveloped from a former mansion.

Transport

Polmont is located in the heart of Central Scotland with commuting links by rail, from Polmont railway station to the south. There are numerous bus stops throughout the village, the main ones being situated on Polmont Main Street, which provide direct bus services to Edinburgh, Falkirk and Stirling.

Polmont also has the benefit of being located next to the M8 motorway and M9 motorway, linking the east and west of Scotland. The access to this motorway is located in the east of Polmont via the Lathallan Roundabout.

Football pitch at Polmont Park, looking from the John Langham End

Sport

Polmont is home to a golf course, which has played host to several PGA events. Within the boundaries of the course is a reservoir, which is a popular fishery. To the east of the clubhouse is an artificial skiing slope, which overlooks Grangemouth.

A few amateur football clubs operate within Polmont, but none professionally. A Junior club, Polmont Athletic F.C., once represented the area, however the club ceased to exist after only a few years. The lack of available land, and sufficient facilities, make it almost impossible for a similar club to take its place in future. In the absence of a local club, the majority of football fanatical Polmonters pay to watch Falkirk F.C..

The most illustrious sporting export of Polmont was Alex Raisbeck, who spent several years captaining Liverpool F.C.. He also represented Scotland on eight occasions, and was considered to have been one of the finest players of his generation, dating back to 1898. The highest-profile Polmonter currently playing at senior level is Derek Niven of Chesterfield F.C., most notable for his winning goal against Manchester City F.C. in the Carling Cup in September 2006.

External links

• Map sources for Polmont
• Old Polmont
• Polmont Weather
• Satellite image of Polmont
• Archived images of Polmont