Support the Livingston bid
Pictured - Hannah Bardell MP, Martin Murray, Akihiko Tamura (Senior Director and Managing Director, Shin-Etsu Handotai Europe Limited respectively), Leader of West Lothian Council Lawrence Fitzpatrick, Mora Niven, Lord Lieutenant, Michelle Quin, Managing Director of Almond Engineering, Robin Chesters, Director of Almond Valley Heritage Trust, Graham Hope, Chief Executive of West Lothian Council and Emma Davies, Board Member of the West Lothian Chamber of Commerce.
The Livingston community is being asked to support the bid and help Livingston achieve this prestigious accolade.
City status would help to raise Livingston's profile across Scotland, the UK and the rest of the world.
This would help to attract inward investment, increase visitors to the area and help to create significant economic benefits, resulting in more jobs and opportunities for growth. There are also significant potential economic benefits of being part of the Scottish Cities Alliance which brings the current seven cities together to promote the country's economic potential.
If Livingston were to successfully achieve city status it would become Scotland's eighth city alongside Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness, Stirling and Perth.
Livingston is larger than many of Scotland's current cities (Perth, Stirling, Inverness) and the largest town in the Lothians with the exception of Edinburgh.
The council is leading on the bid which has received support from key partners such as Shin-Etsu, Mitsubishi, The Centre and Almond Valley Heritage Trust - some of Livingston's most iconic industry leaders.
The bid has also received support from Hannah Bardell MP, Angela Constance MSP and a host of other groups located in the greater Livingston area.
Leader of West Lothian Council, Lawrence Fitzpatrick said: "Livingston means a huge amount to all of us and we all want what is best for the area. We wholeheartedly believe that Livingston deserves to be a city.
"This would be a prestigious accolade and would provide Livingston with a wonderful boost that will enable us to entice inward investment and attract more people to the area. For those of us that stay in Livingston, achieving city status would validate something that we know already; that Livingston is one of the best areas in the country to call home. Fantastic open spaces, access to fantastic transport routes, significant employment opportunities, great visitor and retail attractions, a thriving arts and leisure scene and wonderful community groups.
"I am proud of what Livingston represents and I really hope this bid is successful."
Local people are being encouraged to support the bid by sending messages of support to livingstoncity@westlothian.gov.uk
A number of community engagement exercises will also be undertaken over the coming weeks providing local people with the opportunity to support the city status bid for Livingston.
Hannah Bardell MP, Member of Parliament for the Livingston Constituency added: "I grew up in one of the original parts of the new town of Livingston, Craigshill. I am so proud of all that Livingston has strived to be and become. I am deeply proud to represent the great people of Livingston whose sense of community spirit is vast. We have some of the most innovative and courageous companies in the world, a richly diverse network of community organisations, a fantastic football team and an emerging cultural and arts community. As Livingston continues to grow in size and appeal, it is time that is recognised with city status."
Akihiko Tamura, Managing Director, Shin-Etsu Handotai Europe Limited said:
"Since selecting Livingston as our European manufacturing base in the 1980s we have always considered ourselves privileged to be located in, and be part of the local community, and fully support the City Status bid for Livingston.
"We have a long and successful association with Livingston and have benefited from its excellent location, infrastructure, and the diverse skilled local workforce."
