Wednesday July 8th 2026
Whitburn Cross is one of several busy junctions which could see new traffic signals giving priority to buses to speed up journey times.
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Stuart Sommerville
The new Pride in Place Board which will determine how £20m is to be spent in West Lothian has held its first meeting. The board which will hold a majority of non-elected members met on Friday, with local lawyer Eric Lumsden taking the chair.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the new board “is a major opportunity for our towns.”
Blackburn, Whitburn and Fauldhouse will benefit from the 10 year programme which looks to spend £2m a year on community improvement projects.
The West Lothian Board is one of the 14 boards set up in Scotland to spend £280m in the next decade with money coming from the Westminster government.
Alongside local residents the board has places for the local MPs, MSPs and two local councillors from the two wards covered.
Mr Lumsden, a Whitburn based lawyer, told the LDRS: “I was delighted by the positive and constructive approach taken by all those involved. We have brought together representatives from a range of backgrounds and organisations, all committed to securing the best outcomes for Blackburn, Fauldhouse and Whitburn through this significant investment programme.”
He added: “Additional opportunities to apply for Board positions will be available later in the year.”
Mr Lumsden continued: “At this stage, our focus is on establishing effective governance arrangements, ensuring strong community engagement and beginning the work of identifying projects and priorities that can make a lasting difference to local people and communities.
“My role is to ensure the Board operates effectively and fairly and that all Board members, regardless of background or political affiliation, work together to secure the best outcomes for Blackburn, Fauldhouse and Whitburn.
“This is a major opportunity for our towns and I look forward to working with communities, partner organisations and all representatives elected by the communities of Blackburn, Fauldhouse and Whitburn to ensure the Pride in Place programme delivers meaningful and lasting benefits.”
Local MPs attended the opening meeting and published on their social media afterwards.
Kirsteen Sullivan the Bathgate and Linlithgow Labour MP said: “We had a productive discussion about the priorities for the next phase of the Board formation and plans for engaging with the communities to ensure that Pride In Place creates lasting and meaningful benefits.”
Livingston’s Labour MP Gregor Poynton urged people to support the Board and get involved.
He said: “One of the first decisions the Board has taken is to begin recruiting nine additional Board members, with around three of those places expected to be for people from Fauldhouse.
“At the moment, the Board is still finalising the formal application process, so applications are not yet open.
“If you care about your community, have ideas for its future and want to help shape how this investment is delivered, I’d encourage you to get involved. This is a real opportunity to help shape the future of Fauldhouse.”
Mr Poynton added: “If you’ve already registered your interest with me after receiving my letter, thank you. My office is building a mailing list and we’ll contact everyone directly as soon as the Board confirms how applications will be received.”
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