Plans for bridge to ‘island village’

Stoneyburn’s“island village”existence could come to an end as early as next year as ambitious plans for a £1million footpath and bridge link to Fauldhouse moved a step nearer.

Sustrans, the national agency set up to support sustainable transport has agreed to back the design and construction of a footbridge crossing the busy A706 as part of the path to vital services.

The estimated cost to construct the foot/cyclepath from Stoneyburn Bents linking into the old railway line to Fauldhouse, including a crossing over the A706 is £960,000.

A bridge and a toucan crossing were both options looked at for the A706 which connects Lanarkshire and West Lothian.

The cost estimate for both crossing options were around £500,000 as extensive ground levelling works leading up to a toucan crossing would be needed.

West Lothian council’s design engineering manager Ronnie Fisher told a meeting of the council’s Environment Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel (PDSP) that Sustrans had encouraged the council to apply for funding for the design costs of the bridge after a meeting with community representatives last month.

The bridge was decided as the most cost effective option.

Mr Fisher added:“Officers have been informally told by Sustrans that the bid for funding has been accepted and we can now look to appoint consultants to carry out the design work on the bridge.”

Talks have also been successfully concluded with Scottish Water over sections of the proposed route from Stoneyburn to Fauldhouse which that body owns. Discussions with other landowners are ongoing.

Mr Fisher’s report said:“Officers will continue to work with Sustrans to progress the design of the cyclepath link from Stoneyburn to Fauldhouse.

“Officers are keen for the project to be progressed as quickly as possible but the time-line for delivery is dependent on the conclusion of land negotiations and funding.

“Both land acquisition and the design of the bridge will take time and it is likely that construction will not commence until sometime in 2023.”

Stoneyburn is poorly served by public transport and the only footpaths there are encircle the village.

That led residents to dub the community, in the middle of the county, as the“island village”because it is so difficult to walk anywhere. Roads are narrow and dangerous.

Health care and shops are now available in Fauldhouse since the closure of the GP’s in the village.

The project was agreed prepandemic but has been delayed by lockdowns.

Tom Conn, chair of the Environment PDSP said:“It’s good news additional funding has been forthcoming to help this project move forward.”