What’s Happening Livingston

24/06/2025

: Development continues on Scottish Co-operative Discovery Centre
The transformation of a historic West Lothian building into a new heritage attraction and community space continues to gather pace.

Story and image courtesy of . Images supplied edited by our -in-chief to meet our editorial needs

And we quote…

Development continues on Scottish Co-operative Discovery Centre
The transformation of a historic West Lothian building into a new heritage attraction and community space continues to gather pace

Cooperative discovery centre site pic
The West Calder and Harburn Community Development Trust (WCHCDT) led project aims to transform the derelict former Co-operative Bakery in West Calder into a hub for local economic development, local community cohesion, resilience, celebration, place making and community wealth building.

The completed centre will be home to a heritage attraction and interactive exhibition on the Co-operative movement in Scotland, as well as spaces for community, training and wellbeing services, creating 22 new jobs and 150 annual training opportunities targeted at the most disadvantaged.

West Lothian Council have supported the efforts of the WCHCDT helping them with funding applications as well as continued input from the Museums service to ensure the historic element of the local co-operative movement is full captured including borrowing collections for display in the new centre.

To date funding has been secured to enable the capital and construction phase of the project from the Place Based Investment Funding, Regeneration Capital grant funding from Scottish Government, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland, UK Government Community Ownership Fund and a range of smaller trusts and charities. This is underpinned by local windfarm community benefits and a local community share scheme.

With construction now reaching the half-way milestone, the project team have invited partners to get a glimpse of progress being made.

West Lothian Council Executive Councillor for Economy, Community Empowerment & Wealth Building, Susan Manion joined West Lothian Council Community Wealth Building Manager Clare Stewart on a tour around the site.

Councillor Manion said: "The project builds on a proud local history to create a new national attraction with local roots. The areas co-operative heritage will be a catalyst for improving community wellbeing, inclusion and opportunity locally and celebrating and sharing the history and future potential of the co-operative model.

It's exciting to see it all taking shape and I'm sure the tremendous efforts of WCHCDT and partners will be rewarded with a fantastic venue and destination that will be enjoyed by many."

Trust Manager Matt Pearce said "We are delighted to be able to show progress to date. We are well on the way to delivering our vision. The support we have received from West Lothian Council has been and continues to be critical to the project's success. We are now focussed on delivering the exciting exhibition element."

For more on the Scottish Co-operative Discovery Centre follow the project page https://www.facebook.com/ScottishCooperativeDiscoveryCentre

24/06/2025

According to there may be good news for Livingston Village Community Council. A positive way forward we quote from . But remember, there are talks, and the village is awaiting the next executive meeting.

Story courtesy of .Images supplied by our Editor-in-Chief, and a big thank you to the Livingston Village Gala Day for spotting the story.

You can read the full story here:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AZoZE1koR/?mibextid=wwXIfr

“Bus users in Livingston Village may have some positive news in the near future after it was confirmed that council officers have been working with the commercial operators for several months regarding enhancing bus services in the area.

Leader of West Lothian Council, Lawrence Fitzpatrick informed Council Executive this morning that “a commercial operator is at a fairly advanced planning stage to enhance the commercial bus service in Livingston Village.”

He added: “Officers are not in a position to confirm anything as yet but some positive news is expected and can be shared soon. That is very positive news.”

Several community members spoke at Council Executive this morning following a local Petition for Restoration of Bus Service in Livingston Village.

Councillor Fitzpatrick said: “Thank you for those that attended today. I have a great deal of sympathy with any community that feels that they are deprived of a bus service that meets their needs. Councils do not have any authority over the commercial market or operations, nor do we have a role in regulating the commercial bus network, which represents around 80% of bus journeys in West Lothian. The Transport Act 1985 deregulated bus services in the UK, moving from council-run buses to an open commercial market.

“Provided a commercial operator registers a service with the Office of the Traffic Commissioner they can operate any route they wish, to any timetable.

“The council has maintained the budget available to help subsidise some bus services locally but that budget is limited and can only go so far. These subsidised services were designed to complement the commercial network and provide vital links to communities otherwise not served with public transport.

“We’d love to help subsidise more services but, over the past fifteen years, our levels of funding have been significantly reduced.

No additional money has been received, or offered, by either the UK or Scottish Government to fund more subsidised bus services in West Lothian, so the council does the best it can to help. However councils are not able to solve the issues within the commercial bus network, overall.

“That said, council officers have been working with the commercial operators for several months and I have been advised this morning that a commercial operator is in the advanced planning stage to enhance the commercial bus service in Livingston Village. I hope that is welcomed by local residents.” Livingston Village Community Council

24/06/2025

… Good marks for St Mary's Primary and Nursery Class have received good marks following a recent visit from Education Scotland inspectors.

Image and story courtesy of West Lothian Council and is presented by our Editor-in-chief. The image is edited to meet our editorial needs. Story… 23 June 2025 for St Mary’s Polbeth

ℹ️ The inspection team spent time in the school in April 2025 and during their visit, they talked to parents/carers and children, and worked closely with the headteacher and staff.

Education Scotland published the findings from their inspection on Tuesday 17 June with inspectors marking the school as 'Good' for Learning, teaching and assessment and, Raising attainment and achievement.

✅ Meanwhile, the nursery was ranked 'Very Good' for Learning, teaching and assessment and 'Good' in Securing children's progress

✳️ Inspectors highlighted a number of strengths during their visit:

• The headteacher and staff team ensure that children's rights and positive relationships are at the heart of the school and the nursery's work. Staff provide a nurturing environment, supporting children well and valuing and respecting their views.

• In the school and Enhanced Resource Base, teachers plan learning well, which meets the needs of all children who require additional support. Senior leaders are highly effective in ensuring the progress of children who have barriers to learning.

• School committees, groups and clubs support all children and staff to demonstrate skills for effective learning and leadership. As they move through the school, children become more articulate about how they use their skills in different aspects of their life.

• Across the school and nursery, all staff have a strong understanding of the challenges and difficulties that affect their school community. Senior leaders and staff are very committed to ensuring equity for all children and their families.

• The nursery environment has a wide range of rich learning opportunities, both indoors and outdoors. Children are highly motivated and engaged in their learning.Areas for improvement were identified and discussed with the headteacher and representatives from West Lothian Council with inspectors concluding they are confident that the school has the capacity to continue to improve.

1️⃣ Improvements…

A small number of areas for improvement were identified and also discussed with the headteacher and a representative from West Lothian Council.

2️⃣ Headteacher Helen Pritchard said: "We are pleased with the outcome from our recent visit from Education Scotland. As a staff team we are dedicated to improving all aspects of education for our young people while they are with us from the Nursery Class all the way through Primary Education. We will take on board both positive feedback and areas for improvement and look to continue to develop our practices."

Best wishes to the class

3️⃣ Executive councillor for education, Andrew McGuire said: "The report from Education Scotland reflects positively on the children, staff and the wider school community around St Marys and Polbeth Nursery Class. I'd like to pass on best wishes to staff and look forward to seeing how the school continues its positive work in the future."

23/06/2025

Moment Story 8… Wonderful news for the Deoartment of Finance… West Lothian Council to gain at least £25m in revenue by 2038 as West Lothian could see another 12.500 new homes by 2038….

https://www.facebook.com/EdinReporter/posts/west-lothian-could-see-another-12500-homes-built-in-the-decade-to-2038-and-commu/1282114873923705/

West Lothian could see another 12,500 homes built in the decade to 2038.  And communities have told planners that a more diverse choice of homes – including more bungalows- are needed to meet the needs of an ageing population.  A full meeting of West Lothian council agreed to approve the first s...

23/06/2025

Story 7️⃣ West Lothian star Paige Turley to join fellow Scottish musician on the Pride of Scotland

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1478925200212166&id=100042841014130&set=a.938364210934937

Lights, camera, action! 🎬

Join Stevie Jukes and Paige Turley at 5:30pm on Monday June 23 for the Pride of Scotland Awards Red Carpet Live! Tune in for all action and exclusive interviews.

We’ll be celebrating the inspirational Winners, who are transforming the lives of the people around them alongside many famous faces from Scotland and beyond.

Will you be watching? You don’t want to miss it!

Daily Record P&O Cruises

23/06/2025

story 6️⃣ Grass-roofed bus shelters and £60,000 tree scheme planted up in West Lothian

https://www.facebook.com/edinburgh.evening.news/posts/-grass-roofed-bus-shelters-and-60000-tree-scheme-planted-up-in-west-lothian-see-/1171097688391536/

🚏 Grass-roofed bus shelters and £60,000 tree scheme planted up in West Lothian. See here: https://tinyurl.com/54p2ykky

23/06/2025

… Definetly, a Paris! What can we say…

Our musicians have made it to Paris in record time so are enjoying some unplanned sightseeing! well done our coach drivers for being tour guides for the day!

23/06/2025

Not much of a , more of a miserable one! But here goes news story 5️⃣… West Lothian man rushed to hospital with serious injuries after incident on busy road

https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/west-lothian-man-rushed-hospital-31861823.amp

It's understood the incident took place near a petrol station. Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.

23/06/2025

Story 4️⃣ Families enjoy a fantastic day at annual children's gala day in Armadale. Story courtesy of Hastie9 on YouTube, the clip is just a small part one of Hastie9’s video. Enjoy.

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxzcOW6BU23hmrlRZMbU4p3V5megiQ0rLo?si=tZ7lEgl-gqLrKjtc

60 seconds · Clipped by Chas Litster · Original video "Armadale Gala Day 2025.......Part One" by hastie9

23/06/2025

the … All stories can be found by clicking on this tag… 1️⃣ Good marks for St Marys Primary and Polbeth Nursery Class -

Story and image courtesy of

https://news.westlothian.gov.uk/article/85987/Good-marks-for-St-Marys-Primary-and-Polbeth-Nursery-Class



2️⃣ New West Lothian flats agreed despite objections as housing crisis continues -

Story and image courtesy of Edinburgh Live

https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/new-west-lothian-flats-agreed-31902089.amp



3️⃣ Development continues on Scottish Co-operative Discovery Centre

https://news.westlothian.gov.uk/article/85985/Development-continues-on-Scottish-Co-operative-Discovery-Centre

The transformation of a historic West Lothian building into a new heritage attraction and community space continues to gather pace

23/06/2025

🚨 ’s Hotspot: Bonnybridge & The Falkirk Triangle 🚨. This story includes ’s , and you may be able to read more courtesy of the Herald Scotland here…

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25251297.scotlands-ufo-capital-happening-bonnybridge/

Think UFOs are just sci-fi? Think again.

A brand new book, Bonnybridge: The Definitive Guide to Scotland’s UFO Hotspot, takes us deep into one of the world's most compelling UFO zones — the mysterious Falkirk Triangle, spanning Bonnybridge, Falkirk, and Dechmont.

Co-authored by veteran investigators Malcolm Robinson and Ron Halliday, this eye-opening guide brings together decades of astonishing eyewitness accounts, official reports, theories, and the still-unanswered question: what exactly is going on in these skies?

📘 Get the book here: https://amzn.eu/d/5DgwTBn

🔍 Highlights include:

- Sightings stretching back long before the 1990s UFO frenzy
- Local heroes like Councillor Billy Buchanan pushing for answers from the MOD
- Ordinary people – police officers, schoolkids, pensioners – reporting extraordinary encounters
- Glowing orbs, triangle-shaped crafts, and lights defying the laws of physics.

Here are some highlights:
👽 One woman saw an egg-shaped craft hover above a house in 1980.
🚨 A family on a country walk encountered a blinding blue light and a strange howl in 1992.
🚗 A driver and his sons reported a black, doorless object beside their car, sending tingling sensations through their bodies.

While 95% of sightings can be explained away, it’s the remaining 5% — and particularly the truly inexplicable 1% — that keep researchers (and the rest of us) hooked.

So why Bonnybridge?
“Maybe it’s a window area,” says Halliday. “Maybe we’re glimpsing another dimension.”

Whatever the answer, Bonnybridge: The Definitive Guide is a must-read for anyone curious about what might be out there.

🛸 Believe, or just intrigued? Let us know your thoughts or if you’ve had your own strange experience in the comments below 👇



Image below generated by AI - Davinci

22/06/2025

World Well being week

We’re marking Global Wellbeing Week with a feel-good line-up at The Centre, Livingston from Tuesday 24th to Sunday 29th June. 💆✨

Spin the Wheel for a chance to win wellness-themed gift bags packed with treats from Rituals, One Beyond, Holland & Barrett, Lush, and Boots. Next to New Look on Tuesday 24th and Thursday 26th June at 1pm.

Start your weekend right with free morning yoga in the Winter Garden at 9am on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th June, hosted by One Space Livingston. Sessions are free, with optional donations to Breast Friends and Family — and everyone leaves with a wellness goodie bag. ✨ Bring a friend, roll out your mat, and start your day feeling great. 🧘

To reserve your spot, email [email protected] with your name, how many places you need, and whether you’ll need a yoga mat.

Don’t miss a special performance by Elevate Acro Gymnastics Club - in front of Beaverbrooks on Saturday 28th at 2pm. At the end of 2024, a local acro gymnastics club closed due to a fire and liquidation. Elevate launched in response to this huge loss and welcomed many talented gymnasts and coaches into the Elevate Acro family.

All weekend, our charity partner Breast Friends and Family will be raising awareness and collecting donations next to New Look. Don’t miss Hazel, the founder, speaking on Sunday at 1pm.

Wellbeing Week is all about taking care of yourself and lifting up others. We’d love to see you there. 💕