An eco warrior who has played a key part in clearing hundreds of tonnes of litter says he is “blown away” to have his efforts recognised in the Scotland Loves Local Awards.
Jim Allan is an influential force in West Lothian Litter Pickers, a movement supported by a 3,650-strong Facebook group credited with not just improving communities and the environment, but peoples’ health and wellbeing too.
The volunteer’s determination to make a difference has now been recognised as the High Street Hero for Lothian.
Jim, of Bathgate, arranges litter picks with schools, Scout groups, nurseries, factories and all sorts of other businesses and organisations across the region, including The Woodland Trust, SKY, and Amazon.
He also organises group picks while working hard to secure the funding needed for equipment to supply members free of charge to do their job.
The 64-year-old is a Bathgate Bairn and took early retirement to enjoy his later years, doing the things he loves such as hill walking and cycling and now volunteers for a number of different community groups.

But West Lothian Litter Pickers is his major passion and he is one of the admins managing the Facebook page of the group, which has collected tens of thousands of bags of rubbish since 2019.
From September 2023 to September this year, the group collected 541 tonnes of litter.
His nomination stated: “Jim just never stops. He is constantly on the case.
“This is not just about keeping West Lothian litter-free but it’s a lifesaver for some members through exercise, improving mental health, providing company, giving purpose and meeting new friends.
“Jim would never ask for anything in return. He really doesn’t know how much he does and how he is appreciated throughout West Lothian.”
Reacting to his award, Jim said: “I was blown away when I was presented with this award. I was shocked that one of our members would put me forward for such a prestigious award. I don’t do this for recognition but to keep our region clean and tidy.
“For me, it’s no longer about litter picking. It’s much bigger than that. A lot of the group are now friends. We like going for a chat and a coffee after our picks, and it’s created a whole new level of community spirit.”
High Street Hero Awards are being presented in each of the country’s eight Scottish Parliament regions.


Organised by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP), the Scotland Loves Local Awards recognise and reward all that’s great about the nation’s towns and neighbourhoods and the work to ensure they become stronger and more sustainable.
Chief Officer Kimberley Guthrie said: “We all want the places in which we live to be cleaner and more attractive. Good aesthetics in our public realm gives all citizens, residents and visitors a sense of pride and belonging.
“The work done by Jim and the West Lothian Litter Pickers in building community pride and making a real difference really is heroic. Well done to Jim and the other volunteers.”
Spearheaded by STP and supported by the Scottish Government, Scotland Loves Local is the movement encouraging people to create a better future for their community by choosing local.
You can read more about the Scotland Loves Local Awards here