WEST LOTHIAN

'West Lothian' (''Lodainn an Iar'' in Gaelic) is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy area. It borders onto 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.

Contents

Towns and villages

Principal Towns/Cities

Former status

County

District

Places of interest

Mentions in popular culture

Council political composition

External links

Towns and villages

★ Abercorn

★ Addiewell

★ Ainville

★ Blackburn

★ Blackridge

★ Breich

★ Dechmont

★ East Calder

★ Fauldhouse

★ Greenrigg

★ Harthill

★ Kirknewton

★ Mid Calder

★ Polbeth

★ Pumpherston

★ Seafield

★ Stoneyburn

★ Torphichen

★ Uphall

★ Uphall Station

★ West Calder

★ Winchburgh

Principal Towns/Cities

Bathgate
Broxburn
Livingston
Linlithgow

Former status

County

The county of West Lothian was called 'Linlithgowshire' or the 'County of Linlithgow' until 1921.
As abolished in 1975 by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the county contained six burghs. Two are outside the West Lothian unitary council area:

Burgh	Unitary council area
Armadale	West Lothian
Bathgate
Linlithgow
Whitburn
Bo'ness	Falkirk
South Queensferry	City of Edinburgh

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 and Winchburgh areas; 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.

Places of interest

★ Blackness Castle

★ Linlithgow Palace, birth place of Mary Queen of Scots.

★ Cairnpapple Hill

★ Beecraigs Country Park

Mentions in popular culture

The West Lothian question is so named as it was raised by Tam Dalyell, then member of Parliament for the former West Lothian constituency, in his 1977 book ''Devolution: The End of Britain ?''.

Council political composition

	'Party'	'Councillors'
	Labour	14
	Scottish National Party	13
	Action to Save St John's Hospital	3
	Conservative	1
	Independent	1

External links

★ West Lothian Council

★ West Lothian community councils

★ West Lothian Business Portal

★ West Lothian NEWS

★ Livingston Alive

★ Radio Grapevine - West Lothian's Hospital Radio Station

★ Livingstoni - Photos of livingston