Broxburn, West Lothian

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Broxburn, also known as 'The Badger's Brook' and 'Strathbrock', is a mainly industrial town situated in West Lothian, Scotland located West of Edinburgh and East of Glasgow on the A8. It is situated approximately 5 miles (9 km) from Edinburgh Airport.

The name derives from the Scots words Brock (Badger) and burn (stream). The Brox Burn flows through the town.

Broxburn is famous for its association with the shale oil industry pioneered by James Young. Many shale spoil tips are still in evidence around Broxburn to this day.

Today, Broxburn is a commuter town serving the M8 corridor into Edinburgh and the industrial areas in Livingston and has seen a vast increase in immigration especially from Poland, adding to the cultural diversity that the town has been lacking for so long. However, since their arrival there has been a sharp increase in anti-Polish sentiments with lots of racist graffiti stained upon many walls in the town. There is also an increasing population of neds. It can also be noted that, despite the sharp incline in anti-social behavior among minors, West Lothian Council (as of February 2007) has not issued a single ASBO against a minor in the Broxburn or West Lothian area.

Broxburn is also the birthplace of director Michael Caton-Jones, Mark Burchill (Footballer), and English cricketer Gavin Hamilton (cricketer).

The Union Canal (Scotland) also flows right through the middle of Broxburn.


Coordinates: 55°56′N 3°28′W

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