Whitburn, West Lothian

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Whitburn
Location

OS grid reference:	NS945645
Statistics
Population:	10,391 (2001 Census)

Administration
Council area:	West Lothian
Constituent country:	Scotland
Sovereign state:	United Kingdom
Other
Police force:	Lothian and Borders Police
Lieutenancy area:	West Lothian
Former county:	West Lothian
Post office and telephone
Post town:	BATHGATE
Postal district:	EH47
Dialling code:	01501
Politics
Scottish Parliament:	Linlithgow
UK Parliament:	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
European Parliament:	Scotland

Whitburn is a town in West Lothian, Scotland.

The town was once dominated by Polkemmet Colliery – a large coal mine – but this was closed as a result of damage by an underground fire during the 1984-85 miners' strike and never re-opened. The colliery buildings have all gone and the coal bings that once were so prominent are now being removed. Work to dismantle Bing No 3, the infamous burning bing, started in August 2006. Information about the process can be found on the PolkemmetOCCS website. The last major outbreak of burning occurred during the early to mid 90s but memories linger.

The local secondary school is Whitburn Academy. It is a co-educational comprehensive school serving pupils aged 11 to 18. Its catchment area is the town of Whitburn and the surrounding villages of Fauldhouse, Longridge, Stoneyburn, and Greenrigg. There are approximately 1,000 pupils at the school.