Work has begun on the first phase of a £2 million project to end Stoneyburn's isolation as West Lothian's 'island village', with a new footpath linking it to Fauldhouse.
Footpath Campaigner Welcomes Start of Work
Footpaths campaigner Sandy Edgar welcomed the start of a contract to improve the existing path from the A706 road to Fauldhouse as the first positive step to building an alternative and safer walking route between the two villages.
While the full completion of the path may be two years away, Mr Edgar sees the start of the work as a commitment to ensure the £2m path will be developed.
Details of the Project
A new bridge will cross the main Lanark to Linlithgow road, following the route of an old railway line just south of Stoneyburn crossroads. The bulk of the £2m cost will be absorbed by a bridge to cross the A706 road, a main road from Lanarkshire into West Lothian.
Stoneyburn has few facilities, and the village’s main pharmacy and medical practice are in Fauldhouse, three miles to the west. Despite lying at the almost geographical centre of West Lothian, Stoneyburn has few bus connections and few pavements beyond the village boundaries, making walking hazardous along narrow and winding B-roads which are heavy with undergrowth and hedging in the summer.
Work Under Way on Fauldhouse Section
Work started this week upgrading a path between Fauldhouse and the A706. A contract was awarded to construct a three-metre wide, approximately 1.8 mile long, upgraded footpath to current standards from the B7010, following the historic railway line, to join the footpath adjacent to the A706. The project is expected to be completed in Autumn 2026.
The work also involves re-surfacing and white lining of the B7010 and the entrance to Fauldhouse railway station, before leaving the main road on the path adjacent to the Fauldhouse cemetery access road. The surface of the path will be tarmac up until it reaches Quarry Road, where the surface material changes to a resin-bound rubber material, ensuring suitability for all users including equestrians.
Funding and Support
The project was identified as part of the ‘Fauldhouse to Addiewell’ section of the West Lothian Council Active Travel Plan 2024-29, which was approved by Council Executive in early 2025. It will be funded through Transport Scotland’s Active Travel Infrastructure Fund grant funding for active travel improvements.
Executive Councillor for Environment and Sustainability Tom Conn joined Sandy Edgar from Stoneyburn and Bents Vision Group, West Lothian Council Roads and Transportation Manager Gordon Brown, and West Lothian Council Design Engineering Manager Graeme Burton for a site visit where they got a glimpse of the early progress being made on the Fauldhouse section of the project.
Community Reactions
Councillor Conn said: “This is an exciting project and this is the delivery of the first phase of the full route that will connect the two communities of Fauldhouse and Stoneyburn by an active travel off-road facility. I look forward to seeing the finished path network which I am sure will be fully enjoyed by local communities and visitors to the area.”
Mr Edgar said: “I am very pleased to see work commencing on this project that will provide great benefit to our community in Stoneyburn and Bents. This is something that many in the community have supported for some time. This path connection will prove crucial in helping local people connect with vital assets in neighbouring communities in a safe way either on foot or by bike. Although work is only in early stages I look forward to seeing the project reach Stoneyburn and Bents.”
