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Community News
Welcome to West Lothian's online news service -
Community News.
You can use Community News to tell people in your local community and throughout West Lothian what is happening in your area and publicise your events and initiatives. We have dedicated pages for your council ward so you will be able to find out what is happening locally. If you have any news, just email us or phone 01506 282001. We can also take pictures, although you must guarantee that you have permission from anyone who appears in the picture that it can be published online. The content of the Community News area is subject to copyright and should not be copied without permission .
Meeting to discuss park
Residents are invited to an informal meeting to discuss how to make the recently opened Eliburn Park a success for the community.
The meeting will take place in the park pavilion from 7 to 8.30pm on Tuesday 9 March.
Roley Walton and Wilma Shearer, from the Dedridge Environmental Ecology Project (DEEP), will talk about their success in raising money, improving their local woodland/pond and involving local people in the process.
For fuller details, email becky.plunkett@westlothian.gov.uk or phone 01506 776542.
Winning's just the ticket for football club's anniversary year
One of West Lothian's leading community football clubs is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
Murieston United has arranged a number of events to celebrate the milestone over the 2010/11 season.
The club is also holding a raffle to try and raise funds to provide a new set of strips across all its teams.
Raffle tickets cost £40 each and the winning business will become the club sponsor for both the 2010/11 and 2011/12 seasons. The winner's logo will feature on all of the home kits provided to the club's nine Soccer Seven and 14 11-a-side teams.
The winning ticket will be drawn on 12 June at the 25th anniversary celebration evening.
Further details about the raffle can be obtained from Simon Murphy on 07917 366035 or simurphy79@gmail.com
Deep meeting
The next Meeting of Dedridge Environment Ecology project (DEEP) will be held in the Lanthorn community centre at 2pm on Friday, 12 March.
This week's mobile speed camera locations
Mobile speed cameras will be operational at the following locations in West Lothian during the week beginning Monday, 8 March:
A706 Longridge; A706 Cairnie Place, Whitburn; A89 Armadale; A899 Deer Park; A899 Lizzie Bryce and A71 Breich.
Fairdtrade show is all the fashion
The show was opened by Miss West Lothian, Domenique Whiteford, who is a pupil at the school.
The latest fashion from Fairtrade, including household High Street names, was modelled by pupils and staff.
Bathgate Academy has enjoyed Fairtrade status for the last two years.
Click the picture to see a video from the fashion show
Pupils raise £150 from Fairtrade event
The proceeds will be shared between Fairtrade and Mid Calder's partner school, Lukalu Umea Primary, Uganda.
The event, to which parents and the local community were invited, took the form of a café, a presentation and a Fairtrade food stall.
The class researched Fairtrade and in particular Fairtrade Ugandan coffee. Pupils created presentations explaining how Fairtrade work and the returns it gives to the local growers and pickers. A group of pupils also spent a morning touring supermarkets finding out about the variety of Fairtrade produce.
On the morning of the event, the children put up bunting, posters and set up the tables to get ready for their visitors.
Fairtrade 2010 is all about the BIG SWAP and the children encouraged the adults to change at least one frequently bought item for a Fairtrade one.
Meeting of community councils
The next general meeting of the West Lothian Association of Community Councils will be held in the Civic Centre, Livingston, at 7pm on Thursday 22 April.
No obstacle in way of fundraising for Ladywell youngsters
And parents and friends helped them raise more than £1,438, with a few sponsors still to come in.
Grabbing a bargain
Two teams from West Lothian competed against each other in the BBC1 programme Bargain Hunt on Monday, 8 March.
Beryl Beattie and Ellen Brownlee, from Livingston, were up against two firefighters from Bathgate fire station.
Good yarn at crochet group
Knitters are wanted for a new crochet group at the Pitstop, Addiewell.
Anyone interested should contact Penny on 01501 763354.
Lauren dances her way to higher at 14
Lauren McFarlane has been dancing almost since she could walk.
And she joined her first dance school at the age of two-and-a-half.
"I worked my way up from there," said Lauren, who dances a variety of different styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, contemporary and hip hop.
Lauren, who practices dancing four days a week, sat her exam through the Monument Dance Centre, in Stirling, where she has been a pupil for a number of years.
"Several of us sat the exam," said Lauren, "but I was the youngest in the group."
The only dancer in her family, Lauren's long-term ambitions lie in that direction.
"I would like to open up my own dance school," she added.
Extra day at the Green Gym
As well as a Thursday, the Green Gym will now meet on a Tuesday, from 10am to 1pm.
The Green Gym offers people an opportunity to improve their physical fitness by involvement in practical conservation activities such as woodland management, horticulture, tree planting, planting hedges, greenspace enhancement and improving footpaths.
Learning to deal with bogus callers
A series of events aimed at preventing doorstep crime against older people will begin at the Lanthorn community centre, Dedridge, from 11am to 1pm on Thursday 11 March.
Lothian and Borders Police, Lothian Fire and Rescue Service and West Lothian Council, along with a host of other organizations, are joining forces to show older people how to deal with bogus callers and rogue traders.
Two further events will take place on Wednesday 17 march at Craigsfarm Centre, and Wednesday 24 March at the Regal Community Theatre, Bathgate.
Further details are available from Safer Communities Department on 01506 445671.
McDermid family could be Britain's most future friendly
Judith McDermid and her husband, George, have been taking small steps to lighten their impact on the environment ever since moving into their present West Calder home 14 years ago.
Now their efforts have seen them shortlisted in the Future Friendly Awards.
Votes are cast via the internet and Judith is hoping that people throughout West Lothian will vote for them.
One of the first things visitors to the McDermid's home notice are the chickens running about. For their garden has been organic for over 11 years, with the water butts collecting sufficient water to allow Judith, George and their two children, Rory and Beth, to water the garden without using tap water. The chickens also drink the rainwater.
As expected, insulation and heat recovery feature heavily in the McDermid household.
And, recently, they installed a wood burning stove, which has massively reduced their fossil fuel space heating.
Any food not eaten by the family, may go to their dogs, compost or wormery. And not only do they compost their own waste, they also compost other family members green waste.
"We work with a local childrens' nursery and primary school," said Judith, "helping them become more eco friendly.
"This year we lead a project with the local nursery to build a bottle shelter for the children. Friends, colleagues, neighbours and passers by are all interested in our way of life."
In 2010, the McDermid's hope to start keeping bees, expand their orchard, and build a polytunnel to expand the growth of their own food.
Longer term plans include investing in solar hot water and photovoltaics, as their land is not currently suitable to harness wind energy.
- Click here (new window) to cast your vote for the McDermid family and see a short video about their efforts
- Click here to listen to a short podcast from Judith
Plan to halt decline in visitor numbers at park
Visitor numbers have declined at one of West Lothian's most attractive parks.
Kirkton Park, Bathgate, is maintained to a high standard, but only the bowling and tennis areas are regularly used.
Now it is planned to hold a place making event in the park during the summer, to help publicise to new and existing residents all that the park has to offer.
The public will be asked what they would like to see in the park, such as allotments, green gym, live music and coffee shop etc.
Domenique opens stall for dyslexia group
The group is looking to attract more members and anyone wishing to come along to meetings will be made very welcome.
The next meeting is from 7 to 9pm on Wednedsay 17 March in West Lothian College.
For fuller details, contact Colin Williamson on 07963 465 060.
The group's stall was officially opened by Miss West Lothian, Domenique Whiteford.
- See further down the page for a feature on the group
Wardens issue dog fouling warning letters
Environmental wardens in Bathgate issued 80 warning letters about dog fouling to residents in two areas of the town.
Forty letters were issued to residents in Whitelaw Drive and the others to residents of Haig Crescent and Wallace Road.
Double celebration at family centre
Last year, it was feared the organisation might lose their home after their landlords submitted a planning application to replace the centre with flats.
There was an official ribbon cutting ceremony and unveiling of a special commemorative banner to mark the Centre?s 21st anniversary on Friday 26 February.
Witches proves a burning hot topic at local history group
Since launching just a few weeks ago, numbers have steadily increased at the group, which meets on a Thursday at the Lanthorn community centre, Dedridge.
Although snow played havoc with attendance at the meeting on Thursday, 25 February, those who were able to make it enjoyed a talk about the Calder Witches from the Reverend John Povey of Kirk O' Calder Church, Mid Calder.
Some of the last witches in Scotland were believed to have been burned at Cunigar Hill, Mid Calder.
Anyone with an interest in local history is welcome to attend.
Fun dance challenge
The West Lothian fun Dance Challenge takes place at West Lothian College from 10am to 5pm on Saturday 16 May.
Each child or adult will receive a medal and T-shirt for taking part.
All tiny, pee wee and youth dances will take part in the morning, followed by awards.
Junior, senior and adults will take part in the afternoon, followed by awards.
For details of entry costs and ticket prices for spectators, contact 07719 646 942.
Bridge road to close for up to 20 weeks
The B7015 between Livingston and Mid Calder will be closed for up to 20 weeks to allow strengthening and refurbishment of the masonry bridge over the River Almond.
The stretch of road across the bridge will close from 3 May to 17 September.
Traffic will be diverted Calder Road, Lizzie Brice roundabout, The A899 dual carriageway, Almond interchange and Almond link road.
Pedestrians will be diverted via the new Howden bridge and the Calder Mill cycle bridge.
Voter awareness staff at The Centre
Advisers will be available between 11am and 4pm.
The first step is checking that you are registered to vote at your current address.
You can check whether you are registered on the electoral roll by telephoning the Electoral Registration Office on 0131 344 2500 or by visiting your local Council Information Services (CIS).
Pupils' plan to adopt a granny
Pupils at Toronto Primary School, Howden, are planning to 'adopt a granny' from nearby Braid House.
Toronto is hoping to achieve its Rights Respecting School Award.
And pupils are made aware of Fairtrade issues on an ongoing basis.
In the next couple of weeks, pupils will be visiting Braid House to share their thoughts and developments on the subject and 'adopting a granny' from the day-care centre.
Elise heads for the world championship
Elise Christie (19), from New Calder, Livingston, reached the last 16 of the women's 500m short track speed skating event at the Winter Olympics.
The former finalist in the Miss West Lothian event is competing in the 500m, 1,000m and 1,500m events at the World Championship.
She will be talking to Community News ahead of the event.
Money for art project at burn
A West Lothian environmental group has been awarded £21,600 for a public art project.
The money, from the Grassroots Public Art Grant scheme, was granted to Dedridge Environmental Ecology Project (DEEP) in Partnership with West Lothian Council's Community Inclusion team.
The community works with a community artist to deliver a public art project that involves local people in the process and is located in an accessible public space.
The project will focus on the Dedridge Burn Plantation.
First warrant granted to seize vehicle
A warrant for seizure of a drunk driver's vehicle has been granted for the first time in West Lothian.
A 26 year old male was stopped by police at 1 am on Sunday, 21 Feb, in Blackburn Road, Bathgate for driving whilst drunk.
This was the man's third offence of this type and he appeared at Livingston Sheriff Court on 22 February, where a warrant for seizure of his vehicle was granted.
Birthday celebrations at the Pitstop
One of West Lothian's most innovative community facilities is celebrating its fifth birthday this month.
Prominently located in Addiewell, The Pitstop was formed when the management committee of Loganlea Miners' Welfare Society and Social Club began the process of developing the Miners' Welfare facility into a fully functional community One Stop Shop.
Facilities at the Pitstop range from The One Stop Shop, to the sauna and fitness Suite and the under 7s soft play area.
A homeopathic surgery runs from 5 to 8pm on Monday evenings by appointment and the Blackburn, Seafield and District Credit Union is available on Tuesday evenings.
An Access2Employment Adviser is available on a weekly basis - and a Business Gateway Adviser will come in to talk to anyone who needs help in setting up a small business.
Jobs available in the area are also displayed in the foyer of the building.
Parent power take a break
The Parent Power Support Group at the Lanthorn community centre has been awarded £2,400 to fund an outdoor based activity break.
The aim is to help build family relationships.
The group, which meets weekly at the Lanthorn community centre, supports parents who have difficulties and whose children also have behavioural difficulties.
Police launch vehicle crime initiative
Police in West Lothian have launched an auto crime initiative.
Plain-clothes officers will be on patrol in 'hot spot' areas, ready to respond quickly to any reports of vehicle crime.
As part Operation Firestone, officers will also give advice on what people can do to stop their vehicles being broken into. And they will distribute information leaflets in areas where there have been reports of car crime.
A Bluetooth transmission device will also be used to target mobile phones with crime prevention advice.
A ?crime car? that will be branded with contact details for Crimestoppers will attend every incident of vehicle crime.
A police spokesman said: "Operation Firestone has been launched in response to a recent rise in the number of incidents in West Lothian where vehicles have been broken into and valuables stolen."
Road closed for installation of speed tables
The B7015 Sheephousehill Road, Fauldhouse, will be closed between Eastfield Road and the A706 from 9am on Monday 22 March to 4pm on Friday 26 March.
This is to allow for the installation of speed tables.
Parking will also be suspended on the same section of road.
An alternative route is available via Eastfield Road, Lanrigg Road, B7010, Fauldhouse Road, Longridge, Main Street, Longridge and the A706.
Pedestrians are not affected by the closure.
Keep on singing
Linlithgow Folk Festival Association's annual 'Keep Matt McGinn Singing' night takes place in Linlithgow Academy on Saturday 6 March.
Tickets, priced £8, can be obtained from Blast-off Books, 105 High Street, Linlithgow, the Black Bitch Tavern and from Linlithgow Folk Festival Association on 01506 510132.
Celebrating Craigshill event draws a crowd
For Jane has a host of younger fans from her role as Granny Murray in the TV programme 'Me Too'
Craigshill has been selected to be one of ten demonstration projects across Scotland to look at developing community engagement.
The aim of the event was to raise awareness and to develop the interest of local people to become more involved in their community.
The Daisy Drop-in Centre was one of many local groups represented on the day.
Helping hand for Haiti appeal
Staff and users at Clarendon Support Service, Linlithgow, have raised more than £167 for the Haiti appeal.
Staff donated more than 100 items for a tombola stall.
And everyone had an enjoyable morning while the draw was taking place.
The staff would like to thank everybody who took part in the fundraising.
A cheque for £167.20 has now been paid into the Bank of Scotland in Linlithgow.
Fairtrade fortnight
Fairtrade Fortnight runs to 7 March.
A special promotional event will be held in the Civic Centre, whilst groups throughout West Lothian will also be running their own events over the fortnight.
A number of schools are also holding events.
More swanning around
Improvements include making the iris bed where the swans nest less accessible to children and foxes.
The bed will become an island again, after a build up of silt had joined it to the bank.
The swans are very popular with local residents and, as well as making it safer for the swans when they nest, it is hoped it will also increase the chances of having cygnets.
Learning at the Lanthorn
"Everyone had a good evening," said Margaret Lothian, from the Adults and Communities Team.
There was a buffet and a bit of refreshment, future learning needs identified, and a bit of social networking."
The courses included Digital Photography and Artwork imaging, Basic IT, Intermediate IT and English as a Second Language.
Family and local history event
The largest Family and Local History Fair ever held in West Lothian takes place on 17 April at Howden Park Centre.
The all-day event is being hosted by West Lothian Family History Society.
Local museums and other organisations have also been invited to attend.
Community coaching for young footballers
The sessions give young players aged four to 14 the chance to come along and learn new skills.
Some of Livingston's first team squad were there to pass on their skills.
The next sessions will take place at Easter. For further information, or to book a place, contact Leigh Robertson on 01506 403341 or email leigh.robertson@livingstonfc.co.uk
CLICK HERE to view a full size picture.
Building a branch is Colin's aim
"You've got to focus on what you can do and accept what you can't do," he said.
And Colin should know.
For despite leaving school with no qualifications and little in the way of hope, Colin now has an Honours Degree and a job as a tour guide that allows him to indulge his great love of Scottish history.
It's a determination to succeed that has driven Colin on. And now he's using that same determination to make sure that the first West Lothian branch of Dyslexia Scotland not only survives but goes from strength to strength.
Currently the branch is low in numbers. But a new central meeting place at West Lothian College is proving beneficial.
"Dyslexia has made what I am," said Colin, "and that's why I want to build this branch. I want parents, children and anybody who is interested in dyslexia to come along to the branch."
The branch meets at West Lothian College from 7 - 9pm on the third Wednesday of every month.
The branch will also have a stall at Livingston Designer Outlet from 10am on Saturday 27 February, where people can come along and find out more about its work.
Anyone looking for information about the branch can contact Colin on 07963 465 060.
CLICK HERE to hear Colin talk about the work of the branch and what dyslexia means to him.
Art group is forty years young
Livingston's oldest art group will celebrate its 40th anniversary in May.
Livingston Art Association will mark the special occasion with a special 40th Anniversary Exhibition at Howden Park Centre from Friday 28 May to Saturday 19 June.
A variety of new works and a selection of pottery and ceramics by members will be on sale.
For further details, visit the website www.livingston-art-assoc.org.uk (new window) or telephone on 01506 440449.
Go ahead given for new Bathgate nightclub
West Lothian Licensing Board has granted a licence for a new 600 plus nightclub in Bathgate.
The club, to be known as Chalmers Nightclub, will be based in the former St David's Church, in George Street.
At its meeting on Friday, 12 February, the board agreed to grant a licence for 3am on a Friday and Saturday and 2am on a Thursday and Sunday.
An agent for the applicant said the club was looking to attract 'radio 2 listeners' in the 25-40 age group.
Licence suspended for three months
Dedridge Supermarket has had its licence suspended for three months.
At its meeting on Friday, 12 February, West Lothian Licensing Board suspended the licence after hearing from police that alcohol had been sold to a 16-year-old in September, without any identification being asked for.
The suspension came after the board agreed that grounds for a review of the licence had been established.
The board was shown a video of the purchase being made by the youth.
An agent for the business, at Douglas Rise, apologised to the board and said that lessons had been learned.
The suspension is effective from the date of the board meeting, 12 February.
Gary's a man of many talents
For Gary, who has Down's syndrome, won the Scottish Sporting Association for the Disabled trophy for carpet bowls at an all-day event in Dundee on Saturday 6 February.
An acclaimed bowler, Gary first took up the sport 24 years ago.
And he has since gone on to lift three gold medals and a bronze at the Special Olympics.
His haul would no doubt have been greater had he not been forced to miss the Glasgow Special Olympic Games.
Gary trains at least three days a week and paid tribute to his coach, Ann Troup.
Gary, who also has crippling arthritis, does not let his disability get in the way of his talents.
For, as well as carpet bowls, Gary is proficient in the indoor variety.
And he's also an incredibly talented artist, spending many hours turning out very detailed drawings and stunning portraits.
One of Gary's proudest moments came when he sent a collage of Celtic footballers to the late Tommy Burns at Parkhead. Tommy was so impressed with Gary's painting that he invited him and his family for lunch at the ground. The footballer also gave Gary and his family a tour of the ground and a visit to the trophy room.
Gary also enjoys ceramic art and photography, as well as spending time on his computer.
"I like to keep busy," joked Gary, pictured with some of his medals and one of his paintings.
Fashion show raises more than £180 for Haiti
Girls from the Miss West Lothian event modelled the store's clothes using red as the theme.
The show was compered by Maureen Palmer, who also styled the girls.
Speed reduction measures planned for busy road
Further traffic calming and road safety measures are planned for Dixon Terrace and Polkemmet Road in Whitburn.
West Lothian Council's Executive Committee agreed to begin the process to reduce the speed limit to 30mph from the current 40mph on the roads.
Lothian and Borders Police have been consulted and support the proposals.
Art group's big day out
"This was a cultural day out for the group made possible with the recent donation to the group from the Miss West Lothian event," said tutor Joe Hawthorn.
"The group had an absolutely fantastic time and they have been raving about it ever since."
Joe added that the group had discussed various projects they wished to take part in, using the bremainder of the £400 donation.
Future of nature reserve agreed
The Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) have been given a 25 year lease of the Hermand Birchwood nature reserve, near West Calder.
The move was agreed by the council?s Executive Committee.
The trust have managed the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on a year-to-year basis since 1984, and the new long lease will allow them to apply for external funding to improve the reserve?s access paths.
Prison to strengthen links with community
Addiewell Prison is set to strengthen its links with the local community.
A community and charities workshop will be set up over the next three months, with prisoners making items such as planters for schools and benches for cemeteries.
Over the last year, prisoners have undertaken a number of charitable events. During the festive season, Santa's sleigh was refurbished for local community groups through Livingston Rotary.
In a report to the Fauldhouse and Breich Valley local area committee, prison director Audrey Park added that the prison was also now a large employer in the area, with more than 350 staff. "Forty per cent of our staff come from within a 10-mile radius of the prison," she added.
Junk matters
Pupils at Stoneyburn Primary School used junk materials to make models of three famous Scottish landmarks, the Forth Road Bridge, the Forth Rail Bridge and Edinburgh Castle.
It was part of the school's 'Eco day of action'aimed at showing how seriously pupils and staff in the school view 'Eco' matters.
Every group produced some sort of artefact, which they later presented to an audience.
As well as the 'junk' landmarks, other presentations included how the school supports health and wellbeing through healthy eating. Another group made a woven Scottish Saltire flag by re-using plastic supermarket bags.
And the presentations were even kicked off with a fashion show of clothes pupils had made from litter, particularly sweet and crisp wrappers.
The artefacts produced are on display in the infant open area of the school.
Help wanted with eco-friendly gala
Craigshill Festival Association are looking for people to help with this year's gala, which will take place on 21 August.
The theme for 2010 is for Craigshill to show off how to be ECO friendly.
Anyone with an interest in the gala or time to attend committee meetings will be made welcome.
The next three meetings will be held at Letham Primary School at 9.30am on 19 February, 19 March and 23 April.
Anyone not able to attend but who might have positive suggestions for the big day, should email: craigshillgala@hotmail.co.uk
Community business is kids' play
A new community interest company, selling recycled baby and children's goods at affordable prices, has opened in Bathgate.
Kidzeco, at King Street, is looking for donations of good quality clothes, toys, baby goods and equipment.
All proceeds will be reinvested in the enterprise, local community and designated charities.
The shop will also sell a selection of handmade gifts made by local craftspeople, such as baby quilts, christening gifts, jewellery wraps, scented hearts, and jewellery, all in keeping with the recycling ethos. Donations of old jewellery, beads, buttons, fabric and yarn etc. will also be appreciated. The shop has a baby change and feeding room, with comfy sofas and breastfeeding facilities.
For further information, to volunteer help, or to donate items, contact Tracy Murdoch on 07766 522 715 or email tracy.murdoch@kidzeco.net.
Going green nets gold for school
As recognition for their outdoor efforts, Polkemmet Primary School has been presented with a gold award by the Green Tree Schools initiative.
Launched by the Woodland Trust, the scheme offers schools the opportunity to bring the great outdoors, the wonderful world of wildlife and green issues into the classroom.
Road at railway bridge to close
The stretch of road underneath the railway bridge at Uphall Station will be closed from 9pm on Friday 9 April to midnight on Friday 23 April.
This is to allow for structural repairs to be carried out.
There is an alternative route via the A89, A899, Houstoun Road, Uphall Station Road (Pumpherston) Drumshoreland Road and the C4.
Access will be maintained for pedestrians through the site, or a mini bus will be provided when required.
Road closed for tree felling
The B8028 at Westfield will be closed from 9am to 4pm on Tuesday 16 March to allow tree felling operations to take place.
The road will be closed between the B8028 junction with Lomond View to Barbauchlaw Lodge.
An alternative route will be available.
Water safety trips for youngsters
The Bridge 19-40 Canal Society is carrying out a week of water safety boat trips on the Union Canal for primary 5-6 children from 22 to 26 March.
The society will be taking 13 classes out, three a day Monday to Thursday and one on Friday.
The local community police officer will be on board to talk to the youngsters about water safety.
Next half marathon in May
The second annual West Lothian Run half marathon is due to take place on Sunday May 24.
Before then, the committee are holding an Easter fun run at Beecraigs Country Park. There will be 5k and 10k events, as well as an easter egg hunt for younger family members.
More information can be obtained from the website www.westlothianrun.co.uk (new window)
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Local families could be due more help with their rent and council tax.
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