West Lothian Council has welcomed the progress being made in the deliver of a programme of flood prevention works in Bathgate.

Bathgate Cemetery was one of the areas impacted by recent floods. A report to Bathgate Local Area Committee noted that was due to a combination of both out of bank flows from the burn near the cemetery and the accumulation of surface water runoff from higher areas of ground within the cemetery.

Works are currently underway within the cemetery to mitigate the risk of flooding from the nearby burn and are due to be completed by the end of March.


The meeting also received an update on the ongoing Bathgate Meadows Nature Park Project.

Bathgate Meadows is an on-going project which seeks to improve the amenity and environmental benefits of the watercourse and catchment. Following the recent flood in Meadow Park, issues regarding water quality, flooding and the performance of the flood lagoons will be given further consideration as the design of Bathgate Meadows Nature Park is further developed.

Executive councillor for environment and sustainability Tom Conn said: "Work is now underway to try and ensure these areas of Bathgate don't succumb to flooding in the future. The Bathgate Meadows Nature Park Project aims to provide additional benefits to the local environment in addition to additional flood protection. Officers will continue to monitor the risk of flooding in the Bathgate area through routine flood risk management."