A CANAL society in West Lothian has been given a top accolade by VisitScotland for its green credentials because it's too "mean" to spend money.
The Linlithgow Union Canal Society (LUCS) – the oldest and biggest of its kind in Scotland – bec
ame the first in the country to be handed a silver award in the green tourism category by the nation's tourist agency.
The award is given to tourist organisations for cutting their carbon footprint, but LUCS's Colin Galloway said helping to save the environment is also proving cost-efficient for the society, which is staffed wholly by around 500 volunteers and members.
"We're just too mean to spend money to be honest because we don't have a lot," he said. "But we are already a three-star tourist attraction.
"We're absolutely delighted to receive this recognition as we didn't expect to come away with anything as high as a silver.
"It's all about how a business treats the environment. We use recycled wood in our tea room which reduces heating bills, and use water from the engines to heat the boats. We also shop local which cuts down the carbon footprint and leaves as little an impact as possible on the environment. We were very close to receiving the gold and hopefully will get that in future."
The Manse Road basin in Linlithgow, where the group is based, is a top attraction running boat trips along the canal on its fleet of three passenger vessels, which carry between 12 and 40 people.
The society, in partnership with Ronnie Rusacks MBE of the Forth and Clyde Canal Society, is widely acknowledged to have been instrumental in the creation of the Falkirk Wheel.
One of its boats was also the first to carry the first wedding party to the Falkirk Wheel.
The society was formed in 1975 to promote the restoration and use of the Union Canal and others in Scotland and has built up its fleet, an award-winning tea room and the only canal related museum in Scotland.
VisitScotland's Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) encourages tourism businesses to be environmentally friendly through a series of different measures.
West Lothian Council's executive councillor for development and transport, Martyn Day, said: "I know that there is a rigorous assessment to achieve the award. Linlithgow Union Canal Society do a great job on promoting tourism to the to the area.
"I would like to congratulate the Linlithgow Union Canal Society (LUCS) on being awarded a silver in the VisitScotland green tourism award category by VisitScotland's Green Tourism Business Scheme."
The Easter season is opening soon at the canal basin.
For more information contact 01506 843194 or visit www.lucs.org.uk
