West Lothian Council

30/12/2024

Five youths charged following disturbance at Livingston shopping centre. Five male youths, aged 15, have been charged following a disturbance at a shopping centre in Livingston on Tuesday, 17 December, 2024. Around 5.20pm Police Scotland West Lothian received a report of a disturbance. A 58-year-old man was taken to hospital for treatment. Officers would like to thank the community for supporting centre staff and assisting with the enquiry.

30/12/2024

West Lothian Council’s out-of-hours Social Work Team will be operating a reduced service over the festive period. On Wednesday 1 and Thursday 2 January 2025, the service will open from 10am to 9.30pm. The team can be contacted on 01506 281028 or 281029. Normal service will resume on Friday 3 January 2025.

30/12/2024

Share your views on our Equality outcomes

The Equality Act 2010 requires public bodies to develop and publish an equality outcomes and mainstreaming report every four years. The general equality duty is intended to accelerate progress towards equality for all, by placing a responsibility on bodies subject to the duty to consider how they can work to tackle systemic discrimination and disadvantage affecting people with particular protected characteristics.

Working together the local councils, health services and health and social care partnerships in Lothian have identified ways to improve our services, improve people’s life chances, eliminate discrimination and foster good relations.

Your views will help us know if these are what we should focus on for the next 4 years. You can share your views on all areas or just the ones you are interested in.

This survey is anonymous so please don’t tell us anything that could identify you or anyone you care for.

This link will take you to the engagement hub at Mid Lothian Council where you will need to say which area you come from.

Full version -
https://midlothiancouncil.citizenspace.com/planning/equality-outcomes-2025-2029/

Shortened version
https://midlothiancouncil.citizenspace.com/planning/equality-outcomes-2025-2029-short/

Find and participate in activities run by Midlothian Council

29/12/2024

Weather warning update
The Met Office have now issued a Yellow Warning for Rain & Snow. There will be more unsettled conditions from Sunday and through much of next week, including Hogmanay and NY Day. There is the potential for some really poor weather to occur at points next week, with disruption in places from rain, snow and wind, so please be very careful if out and about.

The details around the severity of the weather and the areas likely to be worse affected will depend upon the positioning of the low pressure systems as they cross the UK. At present, there is particular concern around the persistence of the rain on Monday and Tuesday across parts of the western and central Scotland.

In addition, snow will initially start to accumulate on high ground in the north of Scotland later on Sunday, with snow expected to accumulate at lower levels during Monday and Tuesday.

A medium impact, Yellow Warning for Rain was issued yesterday, valid for all of Monday 30th and all of Tuesday 31st December. The updated warning now covers most of Scotland, including West Lothian. We’ll also see frequent periods strong winds affecting at times through to Thursday.

28/12/2024

Over the festive period please remember to take any empty glass bottles and jars to a glass recycling point. You'll find your nearest glass recycling point at https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/article/4903/Glass-Recycling.

If you find that your nearest bottle bank is full, please do not leave your bottles lying outside the bins on the public ground. If you can, please take them home and return when there is capacity. Alternatively please find another bottle bank that is less busy.
In addition, please don’t dump other waste items inside or outside the glass recycling points. The more time our teams spend on removing this waste, the less time they have to get around all the glass bottle banks to empty them. Thank you for your patience during this busy time.

27/12/2024

Don't let your leftovers go to waste, turn them into delicious new dishes instead! Make the most of your Christmas dinner by using up what you have before buying more, check out Love Food Hate Waste for some tasty ways to use up those leftovers: https://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/foods-and-recipes/

27/12/2024

A weather warning for heavy rain has been issued for nearly all of Scotland on Hogmanay. Our friends at the Met Office have issued a yellow severe weather warning for Monday and Tuesday, 30 and 31 December 2024 covering nearly all of Scotland.
This means there’s a small chance that the weather conditions may lead to severe impact for West Lothian residents, such as flooding, transport disruption and power cuts.
Council staff will be in duty during this spell to monitor conditions and take appropriate action if required.
If you are travelling during this period, please consider the conditions and allow extra time for your journey.
Any flooding related issues in West Lothian can be reported here: https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/article/47567/Flooding-and-Drainage-Issues
If you come across a fallen tree which looks like it has impacted the path or road network, then you can report this via https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/article/75194/Tree-Related-Issues-and-Enquiries
In an emergency, please call our Customer Service Centre on 01506 280000.
Please provide as much detail as possible regarding the location and cause of the issue to help our staff resolve the issue.

27/12/2024

West Lothian Bike Library re-opens on Monday 30 December for anyone looking who wishes to see an outgrown or unused bike brought back into good use.

🎄🚴‍♀️ Got a New Bike for Christmas? Donate Your Old One! 🚴‍♂️🎄

This Christmas season, share the joy of cycling by donating your outgrown or unused bikes to the West Lothian Bike Library! Your generous gift can help others experience the freedom and fun of riding.

🌟 Why Donate?
Every bike donated means someone else can experiencing the joy of riding. Together, we can make unforgettable memories for kids who need it most.

📍 Drop-off Location:
Crofthead Farm Community Centre Templar Rise, Deadridge, Livingston.

📅 Donation Period:
Were open again on the 30th December.

Let’s make this a season of giving and create new memories for others. Thank you for helping us make a difference! ❤️

27/12/2024

Police Scotland West Lothian are appealing for information following a Livestock attack at a farm on the boundary of Beecraigs Country Park. The incident happened between 0930 hours and 1145 hours on Sunday 22 December.
Unfortunately, 5 sheep, in lamb, suffered significant injuries as a result of the incident which appear to have been caused by a dog.
If anyone was within the country park during these times and witnessed a dog, as well as its owner/s, that may have been involved in this incident are encouraged to contact Police on 101 quoting Inc: 3313 of the 22/12/2024.
Dog owners are reminded that it is their responsibility to ensure their dog is under close control when out in our rural communities, particularly when around livestock. Owners of dogs that attack or worry livestock can receive a fine of up to £40,000 or receive a prison sentence.

26/12/2024

If your normal bin collection day is Wednesday or Thursday, please put your bin out on Friday 27 December 2024 instead.
There are no grey, blue or green bin collections on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 25 and 26 December 2024 and 1 and 2 January 2025, due to the public holidays.
Residents whose collections are due on these days should put their bins out on the following Friday, so either Friday 27 December 2024 or Friday 3 January 2025 instead.
Bins will be collected over the course of the following week, so please leave them out until they are emptied.
No brown bin collections will take place over the two-week festive period, with last collections on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and the service resuming on Wednesday 8 January 2025, which will allow resources to be prioritised on grey, blue and green bin collections.

24/12/2024

During all the fun of unwrapping your Christmas presents tomorrow remember that not all wrapping paper can go in your blue bin. Avoid recycling glittery or metallic paper, plastic bows and anything with a shiny coating, these need to go in your grey bin.

Any wrapping paper that can be recycled needs to go into the blue bin loose – so please empty it out of the black bag you gathered it all up in! More information on what can go in your household bins can be found on our website: https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/article/81195/Information-on-Bins-and-Recycling.

24/12/2024

Pupils at a West Lothian school for children with additional support needs have been enjoying a wonderful new Christmas display, thanks to those carrying out Unpaid Work orders.

A wonderful new Christmas scene complete with nativity, reindeers and Santas has been hand-built at the new Beatlie School Campus in Livingston by the Community Payback team.

Full story at https://news.westlothian.gov.uk/article/84288/Unpaid-Work-team-spread-festive-cheer

24/12/2024

Staff and pupils from Whitburn Academy’s Business Studies classes have created a festive hit to help with their studies.
Following on from the success of last year’s project, they decided to make a fun video to help pupils revise.
Pupils were even more involved this year, helping choose the song, brainstorm ideas, and worked collaboratively to write lyrics that tied into the course content.
One class took it a step further by choreographing a superb dance routine to accompany their section of the song.
Business Studies teacher Lyn Pryde said: “It’s been an amazing way to wrap up the term. Pupils have been so excited, eagerly asking for the YouTube link to be posted on their Teams so they can share it with their parents and carers.
“The whole experience has brought a buzz of energy and creativity to the department, making it a memorable and engaging way to celebrate the end of the school year.”
To watch the video, please visit

24/12/2024

Big-hearted P6 and 7 pupils from Eastertoun Primary School in Armadale have been helping a local charity.
The children took part in an enterprise project, where they learned sewing and knitting skills as well as making their own Christmas slime.
The items were then sold to parents and carers at the school's Nativity, raising an impressive total of £265, which was given to the Salvation Army to help adults and children over the festive period.

24/12/2024

Renewed appeal to help trace Santra Saju missing from Edinburgh

One week on from an initial appeal, officers in are continuing their enquiries to trace Santra Saju, who is missing from the South Gyle area of Edinburgh.

Santra, 22, was last known to be at the Asda store in Almondvale, Livingston, on Friday, 6 December, 2024, between 9.10pm and 9.45pm, after having been in the Burnvale area earlier that evening around 8.30pm.

She is described as being around 5ft 6 inches in height, of Indian ethnicity, of slim build, with short black hair. She was wearing a black jacket with a fur-lined hood, beige furry earmuffs and a black facemask. Enquiries have also revealed she had a black rucksack in her possession.

Her family have released the following statement:

“It has been more than two weeks since Santra was last seen and we are worried sick, this is very out of character. We are desperate to know where she is and that she is safe.

“Santra, if you see this please call us or reach out to someone to let them know that you are safe.

“We urge anyone who may have seen Santra, or who has any information at all that might help trace her to contact police as soon as possible.”

Chief Inspector Mark Hamilton said: "As time passes, concerns for Santra's wellbeing continue to grow, and we are conducting extensive enquiries in the Burnvale and surrounding areas to trace her.

"We know that Santra frequently wears a black face mask and believe she was wearing beige fluffy earmuffs when last seen. We also know that she picked up a black and white shopper-style bag from an address in Burnvale on Friday evening, but this was no longer in her possession when she entered the supermarket.

"We are continuing to review CCTV footage and conducting searches of the area. We urge anyone who may have seen Santra or someone matching her description to contact us immediately."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 3390 of Sunday, 15 December, 2024.

23/12/2024

Sort Your Money Out – a free 6 week course
Want to make the most of your money in 2025? Need some support to stick to your budget, start saving, reduce your debt, and make smarter spending choices?
The Adult Learning team invites you to a fun, free 6-week course for anyone whose resolution is to sort their money out. Groups will run in Broxburn, Whitburn, and Craigshill. Attend all 6 sessions to receive a supermarket gift voucher and a budget planner book.

Broxburn
• Start Date: Monday, 13th January 2025
• Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
• Location: Strathbrock Partnership Centre

Whitburn
• Start Date: Thursday, 16th January 2025
• Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
• Location: Whitburn Community Centre

Craigshill
• Start Date: Friday, 17th January 2025
• Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Location: Almondbank Library

Spaces limited – reserve yours now! Contact us at [email protected] or call 0800 731 1831 for more information.

23/12/2024

On Thursday 12 December we had a Fly-tipping incident on a back road around Beecraigs Country Park. If you have any information in relation to the incident, please use our online form https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/dontwaste or please call 01506 280000 noting fly-tipping 12/12/24 Wairdlaw. This type of incident required an emergency clearance and caused the road to be blocked for several hours

It its believed that the material dumped was commercial. Commercial companies are legally required to dispose of their waste at commercial recycling centres and there are several in West Lothian. Fly-tipping is illegal and it’s dangerous. There is no excuse.

Where a business is making money by undertaking a job, they have a legal responsibility to dispose of the waste. It is estimated that commercial fly-tipping accounts for around 80% of all fly-tipping in West Lothian.

Please remember, if you are employing a business or sole trader to undertake work for you, check that they have a Waste Carriers License if you are allowing them to dispose of the waste materials on your behalf.

It is illegal and can carry a fine or in the worst cases a jail term. If you are caught fly-tipping WLC can issue a Fixed Penalty Notice of up to £500. If the case goes to court, individuals or companies can be fined up to £40,000 or imprisoned for up to five years.