West Lothian Council is proposing cutting all funding to all Community Centres in West Lothian from 1st April 2026. They have given all Community Centre Management Committees across West Lothian three options:

1. Community Asset Transfer
2. Full Repair and Insuring lease
3. Recharging of all Council costs - default option

Whichever option is chosen, Management Committees are expected to take on significant costs for power and maintenance which are currently the Council's responsibility.

Although some Management Committees have the organisational structure, skills and experience to take on such huge responsibility, many do not and are expected to hand back the keys. Many Community Centres in West Lothian will close.

Community Centres form the heart of our communities, hosting vital community groups, fitness classes, soft play, childcare, churches, charities, and adult and child learning. Even if centres survive, the groups they host may not be able to afford the inevitably higher charges and many groups may cease to exist.

These facilities have a wide impact on community health, criminality, social isolation and deprivation. Rushing decisions about the future of these centres could lead to far greater costs for the Council and rate-payers in the years to come as well as making our communities less pleasant places to live and work.

We understand that West Lothian Council is in a precarious financial position. However, we urge them to understand the value of local Community Centres to the rate-payers of West Lothian and their families and to extend the consultation period so that the full impact of proposed changes can be evaluated. An assessment of the needs of individual communities needs to be done and communities need to be fully supported in the process.

Let's show West Lothian Council the importance of our Community Centres. Please sign to show your support for more time to plan future changes and provide greater support to Management Committees.