West Lothian villagers have been the first to reject council plans for the future of its community hall.

Answering to a 5 September deadline the villagers who run Torphichen’s community centre refused to sign up to any option.

They were quickly followed by those in suburban Murieston who also refused to agree to proposals for the management of its community centre, comparing the options to choice of the “firing range or the noose.”

A spokesman for the Torphichen villagers said: “the council have pushed us into a corner.”

Proposals for more than 30 community centres across the county come before the council early next month. The majority face being taken on and run by the council with increased costs for lets.

Management committees lose control of the centres under these plans and

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