West Lothian Council have announced a new Community Process which aims to give local people the chance to see how money can be spent on environmental improvements across a number of fixed locations in West Lothian.

The new process will expand on existing work from West Lothian Council's Housing Service to engage residents on ideas for projects that will improve areas within council housing estates.

Initially the focus will be on areas of land around council owned housing areas in Blackburn, Whitburn & Bathgate.

The first stage of the process runs from 2 August until 4 October when members of the public will be asked to submit their ideas which can then be considered for allocation of funds from the tenant's environmental improvement budget.

This will allow communities to put forward project ideas for areas of housing land, for example ideas could range from community gardens and grow your own spaces to improving hedging and open spaces.

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Ideas can be submitted in a variety of ways including using the online, Consul voting platform.

Consul can be accessed via the West Lothian Council website and can be used with a MyWestLothian login. MyWestLothian (sometimes known as MyAccount) is a log in used to access many other services offered by the council for example the payment of school meals. If you think that you aren't already registered for MyWestLothian then you can register via the West Lothian Council website. 

For these details and more for consideration on the overall process including examples of potential improvements, please visit: westlothiancouncil.communitychoices.scot/

Communities will also be supported through this process by face-to-face support within popular local areas to engage people in how they would like their communities enhanced. Information on the support available will be promoted via the councils Facebook page, the tenants Facebook page as well as via partner organisations.

Following the initial stage, the suggestions will be refined by a panel which will include council housing tenants, prior to a public vote where a final shortlist of ideas will be narrowed down and selected for funding.

Executive councillor for services for the community, George Paul said: "This process builds on existing work between the Housing service and local tenant's groups in encouraging even more council tenants and the wider public, to get involved in deciding how money can be allocated towards improving local housing areas on council owned land.

"This will hopefully empower tenants and the wider community to come together and decide the best approach for their local area. It is vital that we hear from as many people as possible from across our local communities and I would urge anyone with any suggestions to please get involved."