What happened to the information you provided for the Community Council Questionnaire December 2015?

Well! the basic answer is that it was and is still being used to provide input to the proposed Local Development plan. http://www.westlothian.gov.uk/proposedplan .  Based on the information you provided, West Lothian Council’s proposed development plan for Murieston has rejected the Expressions of Interest by developers for Wellhead Farm, and Murieston Castle and these areas are designated as “Countryside Belt” within the draft plan (see maps within Proposed Plan).  Having rejected developer’s proposals for these sites, the sites are still vulnerable to challenge by developers and this is now happening.

Developers have now submitted an application for Wellhead Farm for around 280 houses and the period of objection is slowly closing, it will probably close on 6th January 2016.  If you wish to comment on this proposal you should go to West Lothian Council’s planning website and make your comments, see below links.

Planning applications: https://planning.westlothian.gov.uk/online-applications/ and go to input box “Enter key words, reference number” type in 0918/P/15 this will take you to the planning application.  You can view all the related documents and should you wish to comment on the proposal then click on the tab “ Make a Comment”.  Prior to making a comment you should have a look at the web page which clearly explains objections.

Objections: http://www.westlothian.gov.uk/article/2821/Objecting-to-a-planning-application

Some of the issues that the Community Council feel are relevant:

• Land is already available at Gavieside but developers are ignoring this site.
• Wellhead farm area provides an area of outstanding natural beauty.
• Lack of Infrastructure on an already overloaded system of road transport and rail parking.
• (Schooling, potential additional loading on schools will force West Lothian Council to review its catchment policy especially for Williamston Primary school  This could result in some family siblings not being able to access Williamston with existing family members.