Just over £80,000 will be spent on a variety of improvement schemes in the East Livingston and East Calder council ward.
The spending plans were agreed by the ward’s local area committee from the latest tranche of cash from the national Town Centre Improvement Funds from the Scottish Government.
The scheme allocates money to all communities with a population of more than a 1000 people.
It was controversial on its launch last year and that remains the case, with many councillors across the county withdrawing from involvement in the process of allocating cash because of a perceived clash of interests.
In towns such as Bathgate and Linlithgow, final decisions on spending had to be referred to West Lothian Council’s Executive as the local area committees could not vote.
Others such as East Livingston and East Calder agreed spending plans. But many remain unhappy at the way the scheme was managed by the government.
Local councillor, and Tory group leader, Damian Timson said: “Given what has happened with the town centre funding this year, I do believe the process has hindered what the elected members wanted to happen which is hugely disappointing. To prevent repeats of this in future years, I do want the process to be reviewed and changed so our local communities are given what is wanted and what is best for them.”
Projects in Livingston which will benefit include Craigsfarm Community Development Project and West Lothian Youth Action Project for their Craigshill Urban Growing Spaces project.
In East Calder the Development Trust gets help with IT and signage, display board and a memorial plaque. Mid Calder gets extra funding for its community garden, Uphall Station gets cash for its Shale Trail exhibition.
Pumpherston Community Council gets help for its village history project.
