West Lothian

West Lothian Lodainn an Iar Wast Lowden
Logo Coat of arms
Location
Geography
Area	Ranked 20th
- Total	427 km2 (165 sq mi)
Admin HQ	Livingston
ISO 3166-2	GB-WLN
ONS code	00RH
Demographics
Population	Ranked 10th
- Total (2008)	169,500
- Density	397 /km2 (1,028 /sq mi)
Politics
West Lothian Council http://www.westlothian.gov.uk/
Control	Scottish National Party/Action to Save St John's Hospital/Conservative
MPs	Michael Connarty Graeme Morrice
MSPs	Angela Constance Mary Mulligan

County of West Lothian until circa 1890
Geography
Area - Total	Ranked 32nd 76,806 acres
County town	Livingston
Chapman code	WLN

West Lothian (Scots: Wast Lowden, Scottish Gaelic: Lodainn an Iar) is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders, South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire and Falkirk.

The council area was created in 1996, under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, with the boundaries of the West Lothian district of the Lothian region.

Towns

Villages

Former status

County

The county of West Lothian was called Linlithgowshire or the County of Linlithgow until 1921.

Before it was abolished in 1975 by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the county contained six burghs. Two are now outside the West Lothian unitary council area:

On abolition in 1975 the county, with the exception of the Bo'ness area, was included in the Lothian Region. Bo'ness became part of the Central Region. Lothian Region was divided into four districts, one of which was named West Lothian and approximated to the former county.

District

West Lothian District was created in 1975, comprising the county of West Lothian; less the burghs of Bo'ness and South Queensferry and the Kirkliston area; it also included the East Calder and West Calder districts of the former county of Midlothian. The council's headquarters were originally in Bathgate, later moving to the new town of Livingston. The unitary authority created in 1996 used the same boundaries.

Areas of West Lothian

Livingston: East Calder, West Calder, Mid Calder, Wilkieston, Pumpherston], Knightsridge, Carmondean, Deans, Eliburn, Ladywell, Craigshill, Howden, Dedridge, Murieston, Adambrae, Livingston Village, DeerPark

Broxburn: Uphall, Winchburgh, Dechmont, Bridgend

Bathgate: Armadale, Whitburn, Fauldhouse, Longridge, Torphichen, Blackburn, Seafield

Places of interest

• Beecraigs Country Park
• Blackness Castle
• Cairnpapple Hill
• Linlithgow Palace, birth place of Mary, Queen of Scots
• Polkemmet Country Park
• Torphichen Preceptory

Mentions in popular culture

The West Lothian question is often said to have been raised by Tam Dalyell, then member of Parliament for the former West Lothian constituency, in his 1977 book Devolution: The End of Britain?. However, in the debate on the Referendum (English Parliament) Bill (HC Deb 16 January 1998 vol 304 cc589-660) Dalyell says " The so-called West Lothian question, as it was dubbed by Enoch Powell, not by me, in 1977"[1], denying this.

Famous people from West Lothian include:

• Author and actor Ian Colquhoun, from Livingston
• Leon Jackson, the winner of The X Factor UK 2007, from Whitburn
• David Tennant, from Bathgate, best known for portraying the tenth incarnation of the Doctor in the television series Doctor Who
• Susan Boyle, from Blackburn, is a world-renowned singing contestant on the 3rd series of Britain's Got Talent. Her launch performance not only helped to draw a record TV viewing audience of 10.3 million people, but also led to a YouTube video of her performance, generating an estimated 100 million viewers within the first eight days, and widespread international media coverage.^[1][2]
• Dario Franchitti, from Bathgate, winner of the 2010 Indianapolis 500.

Town twinnings

West Lothian is twinned with the following cities:

• Grapevine, Texas, USA
• Hochsauerland, Germany

Council political composition

Youth participation

West Lothian Youth Congress

West Lothian has a formal structure for engaging with young people and including them in the decision making process. The West Lothian Youth congress is a constituted group of young people between the ages of 12 and 26. It includes 2 democratically elected representatives from each of West Lothian’s High schools as well as young people representing youth/ specific interest groups, community councils or local areas from across West Lothian. The Youth Congress meets on a Tuesday evening every 4 to 6 weeks in the Council chambers of the West Lothian civic centre between 7PM and 9PM. The Congress is a full community planning partner and played an integral role in developing West Lothian’s 2010 community plan. The Congress also elects West Lothian’s 4 Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament who are elected to represent West Lothian’s young people at a national level.

Scottish Youth Parliament

The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) is a body set up to represent Scotland’s young people. Its members are aged between 14 and 26 and are elected from Scottish parliamentary constituencies with each Member of the Scottish Parliament being shadowed by 2 Members of the Scottish Youth parliament. There are also representatives from several voluntary organisations. West Lothian has four Scottish youth parliament seats as it comprises two Scottish parliamentary constituencies. West Lothian’s current MSYP’s are:

References

External links

• West Lothian Council official government website
• West Lothian at the Open Directory Project
• West Lothian Archaeology Group
• West Lothian Family History Society