Here, you can make your voice heard on climate policies and decisions. We provide direct links to open consultations, track the responses we gave, and offer resources to help you craft informed submissions.
Together, we can influence the future of climate action by engaging in consultations, and drive meaningful change. Your voice matters.
Stay informed about current opportunities to share your views and influence climate policies both in West Lothian and across Scotland. Note deadlines for those closing soon.
West Lothian Council is in the process of replacing the current West Lothian Local Development Plan (LDP1) which was adopted in September 2018.
The proposed timetable for producing a new LDP was agreed by the council on 3 March 2026. The Development Plan Scheme explains what a Development Plan is, outlines how the council intends to prepare and consult on LDP 2, and includes a Participation Statement – a guide on how the public can get involved. Read more on the DPS and Statement.
Stay on top of the progress of LDP2 here.
SEPA’s main consultation hub is here.
West Lothian Council’s open consultations including links to the Development Plan Scheme can be found here.
See live NatureScot consultations and the list of previous surveys here.
Transport Scotland’s consultations hub is here.
The Scottish Government maintains a full directory of open and recent consultations:
Explore our contributions to key consultations, demonstrating how we advocate for a greener, fairer Scotland.
The Scottish Government Draft Climate Change Plan closed 29 January: WLCAN has drafted a response to the plan along with presentation slides for discussion. Read WLCAN’s response.
We’ve also summarised the consultation as presentation slides.
The government’s plans are available in various levels of readership. Read the main background. There’s also an easy read version and a young people and children’s version.
You can also read an opinion on the plans from Stop Climate Chaos Scotland: SCCS summary.
Public consultations have taken place to protect West Lothian’s 6km stretch of coast. The most recent, on January 29, followed an earlier event which WLCAN attended, see summary here. We’ll bring updates about the latest developments.
WLCAN submitted a response to the Scottish Government’s Draft Circular Economy Strategy, which closed on 13 January. The consultation paper can be read here and responses will be published via the same link.
WLCAN submitted a response to the Community Benefits from Net Zero Energy Developments consultation. Read our submission. Also see the government’s analysis of all responses.
CRSES has published its first climate risk and opportunity assessment for the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region. Read the summary of climate impacts on West Lothian.
West Lothian Council’s 2025–26 Budget Consultation closed in November 2025 after West Lothian residents were invited to participate in how savings should be made to meet a £23 million gap. We look forward to updates.
Sepa launched a consultation Safeguarding Scotland’s Water Environment which was open until 3 March. As we await updates, you can also read its report on the condition of water in Scotland.
Stay informed about proposed developments and share your views on their environmental impact.
Find all West Lothian planning applications using this link. You can search all the latest planning applications by area for this week or this month’s applications.
WLCAN has established a number of forums with other organisations in West Lothian. These cover: Active Travel, Growers, Biodiversity, Circular Economy.
The forums meet regularly to take forward work actively being done in each theme. They are open to members and non-members to join.
Active Travel Forum – set up in 2025 by WLCAN in partnership with West Lothian Bike Library and Linlithgow CDT. Meets every two months. Now has multiple partners from voluntary, public, community and transport sectors. Key achievements.
Growers’ Forum – a pre-existing forum for community gardeners, which WLCAN has been supporting as almost all of its members are WLCAN members. They meet about every three months in person, and gardens take turns to host.
Biodiversity – WLCAN has partnered with West Lothian Council to build a network of groups working in biodiversity. These are linked under the Local Biodiversity Action Plan and have a number of sub-groups. They meet roughly quarterly with in-person and hybrid meetings.
Circular economy forum – set up at the start of 2026 to feed into the Scottish Government’s circular economy consultation and bring together relevant network members. Quarterly meetings at different venues specialising in waste reduction, food sharing, pre-owned clothes and textiles reuse, repair skills and crafting, tools and equipment sharing.
Contact WLCAN for meeting schedules,
Across West Lothian groups meet regularly to discuss high-level local area plans and town management. Community Development Trusts and the Joint Forum of Community Councils work to ensure people in relevant areas are consulted about what’s happening locally. Plans include health and social care, biodiversity, local development and active travel.
An overview of the plans and contact details for all the CDTs and community councils can be found here.
