Stoneyburn’s “island village” existence might come to an finish as early as subsequent 12 months as bold plans for a £1m footpath and bridge hyperlink to Fauldhouse moved a step nearer.
Sustrans, the nationwide company set as much as assist sustainable transport has agreed to again the design and development of a footbridge crossing the busy A706 as a part of the trail to important providers.
The estimated price to assemble the proposed foot/cyclepath from Stoneyburn Bents linking into the previous railway line to Fauldhouse, together with a crossing over the A706 is £960,000. A bridge and a toucan crossing had been each choices checked out for the A706 which connects Lanarkshire and West Lothian.
The fee estimate for each crossing street choices had been round £500,000 as in depth floor levelling works main as much as a toucan crossing could be wanted.
West Lothian council’s design engineering supervisor Ronnie Fisher informed a gathering of the council’s Setting Coverage Improvement and Scrutiny Panel (PDSP) that Sustrans had inspired the council to use for funding for the design prices of the bridge after a gathering with group representatives final month. The bridge was determined as essentially the most price efficient possibility.
Mr Fisher added: “An replace to my written report, officers have been informally informed by Sustrans that the bid for funding has been accepted and we will now look to nominate consultants to hold out the design work on the bridge.”
Talks have additionally been efficiently concluded with Scottish Water over sections of the proposed route from Stoneyburn to Fauldhouse which that physique owns. Discussions with different landowners are ongoing.
Mr Fisher’s report stated: “Officers will proceed to work with Sustrans to progress the design of the cyclepath hyperlink from Stoneyburn to Fauldhouse. Officers are eager for the mission to be progressed as rapidly as attainable however the time-line for supply depends on the conclusion of land negotiations and funding. Each land acquisition and the design of the bridge will take time and it's seemingly that development is not going to begin till someday in 2023.”
Stoneyburn is poorly served by public transport and the one footpaths there are encircle the village. That led residents to dub the group, in the midst of the county, because the “ island village” as a result of it's so troublesome to stroll wherever. Roads are slim and harmful.
Well being care and retailers at the moment are obtainable in Fauldhouse for the reason that closure of the GP’s within the village. The mission was agreed pre-pandemic however has been delayed by lockdowns.
Tom Conn, chair of the Setting PDSP stated: “ It’s excellent news that extra funding has been forthcoming to assist this mission transfer ahead.”
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