The impact of large-scale developments on some of West Lothian's rural village communities will be one of the biggest issues facing the councillors elected to represent the Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh ward.
The ward takes in Broxburn, Uphall, Winchburgh, Ecclesmachan and Dechmont. A diverse mixture of small villages and towns the Broxburn ward lies on the eastern boundary of the county with Edinburgh along the M8 corridor.
Historically an industrial settlement Broxburn has seen its fortunes decline and slowly begin to rise thanks to its proximity to Edinburgh and the motorway network. It is also the most dynamic face of West Lothian as the landscape and communities begin to change to new 21st century purposes.
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Winchburgh, once a small village of around 2,000, was at the heart of the shale mining industry. Within ten years the village will become a town of more than 12,000 as it transforms with thousands of new homes, links to the M9 motorway and a marina at the centre of leisure facilities based around new parkland and the Union Canal.
To the west of the ward around 1,000 homes will be built in the village of Dechmont, on the site of Bangour Hospital.
Big developments have created big issues. Local representatives of Tory Labour and the SNP have united in their demands of the council to fulfil a promise to develop Partnership facilities offering a one-stop shop for council and health provision in Winchburgh.
In Dechmont locals fear that largely rural infrastructure around the A89 will not develop enough to accommodate the surge in traffic that will come with the development at Bangour. There are also fears for rail commuting with nearby stations such as Uphall Station, and even Bathgate swamped with parking problems.
The latest issue for commuters being doubts cast that a railway station will be built in Winchburgh despite promises from the outset.
Councillors have also grappled with anti social behaviour in the ward and from the use of off road motorcycles on Broxburn bing
2017 Results:
Diane Calder, SNP: 27.24% FPv (1,898 total)
Chris Horne, Conservative: 27.23% FPv (1,897 total)
Angela Doran, Labour: 19% FPv (1,448 total)
Janet Campbell, SNP: 8.3% FPv ( 1,666 total)
2022 candidates:
The Broxburn ward is home to the current SNP group leader, a local community nurse Janet Campbell. She has served the ward since 2007. Her colleague Diane Calder has served as an SNP councillor Since 2012. Both are defending their seats,
The notable change this time around is the switch from Labour to the Conservatives for Councillor Doran.
Now Angela-Doran Timson, she switched the Tories soon after her marriage to Damian Timson, the Tory group leader on the council. The couple married in December 2020, having first met when they were both elected in 2017.
Former Tory councillor for the ward Chris Horne moves next door to fill the Conservative spot in Linlithgow this time around.
Standing as a Labour candidate is Ann Davidson. Ann is the widow of long-serving Broxburn councillor Lex Davidson, who was honoured with his name being added to the Broxburn community library earlier this year. Ann, who has a grown-up family, currently works as a volunteer with Age Scotland.
Other candidates are: Charles McKenzie Corser, Scottish Liberal Democrats; Hazel McLeod, Scottish Labour Party; Phil Noble, Alba Party for Independence; Kenneth Alexander Sutherland, Scottish Family Party and Cam Wright, Scottish Green Party.
