Continuing the work of regenerating one of West Lothian's most deprived communities will be the chief task of councillors fighting to win a seat in Livingston North.
The ward covers the new town’s northern neighbourhoods of Deans, Knightsridge, Newyearfield, Eliburn and Livingston Village north of the River Almond.
Among the first housing areas developed as Livingston grew in the late 1960s, northern Livingston has suffered more than its fair share of deprivation. Areas such as Knightsridge were identified four years ago as being in the bottom 20% of data zones in the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.
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As such, since then there has been work carried out in community empowerment through the council’s Regeneration teams.
The ward has strong and active communities, with many groups working to help local people. Livingston North has exported successful regeneration and community ventures such as the Vennie youth project as models for other areas.
The Vennie will be receiving £31,850 of funding from the council’s Third Sector Community Fund for 2022/23. This is a continuation of the funding award from 2021/22. Three young people from Knightsridge who volunteer at the Vennie have obtained places at universities.
The area is slowly changing. Both the council and private developers are working on new housing in areas such as Deans South - site of the notorious 1960’s Siporex block homes built with roofs of porous concrete.
A new Partnership building opened in the central shopping area of Carmondean last year.
The council's focus now is on developing sustainable jobs and small businesses in the area.
2017 Results:
Alison Adamson, Conservative: 25.45% FPv (1,940 total)
Dom McGuire, Labour: 13.03% FPv (1,898 total)
Robert de Bold, SNP: 16.31% FPv (2,161 total)
Andrew Miller, SNP: 15.35% FPv ( 1,606 total)
2022 candidates:
Long served by two incumbent SNP councillors both Robert de Bold and Andrew Miller have represented Livingston North since the 2007 poll. Councillor Miller has served the community since 1995.
New in the last poll and now defending her 25%FPv share of the vote and a seat on the local area committee is Alison Adamson for the Conservatives.
Former Labour councillor Anne McMillan, who lost her seat in the 2017 poll will be looking to regain a place on the local area committee. The Liberal Democrats are fielding Catrina McDonald while the Scottish Family Party has Robert Bell as a candidate.
Candidate List
Alison Adamson, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Robert Bell, Scottish Family Party: Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life
Robert de Bold, Scottish National Party (SNP)
Catrina McDonald, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Anne McMillan, Scottish Labour Party
Andrew Miller, Scottish National Party (SNP)
Michael Rae, Scottish Labour Party;
Mark Wilkinson, Scottish Green Party.
