MSP Fiona Hyslop tours the new West Lothian Cycle Circuit

Fiona met Fraser Falconer, the former chairman of Linlithgow Development Trust, current chairwoman Carole Racionzer and trustee Matthew Ball for a walk round the now tarmacked 1km track that will become West Lothian’s Cycle Circuit.

And the local politician was impressed with what she saw.

Fiona said: “It was very exciting to visit the West Lothian Cycle Circuit site to see how works are progressing on the 1km long circuit, ahead of its official opening.

“The sheer size of the track with four loops is very impressive and will be suitable for beginners and professionals alike.

"The Trust is planning to have slots allocated to local cycling groups, families and first-time cyclists and will also be suitable for professional cyclists looking to map their qualification times for competitions.

“I have been a keen supporter of this project since the beginning, convening a meeting of national funding bodies to help them see the great potential of this community led initiative, which also received Scottish Government Funding as part of the upcoming UCI World Cycling Championships later this year.

"I am really delighted to see plans coming together for the cycle circuit. Linlithgow Community Development Trust and the Clarion Club are to be congratulated but I know there is much work and planning still to do.

“I was also pleased to meet with organisers of the UCI World Cycling Championships taking place in Glasgow and across Scotland in August this year as they recently held an exhibition for MSPs in Parliament.

"This mega event, held for the first time in one country with all 13 World Championships taking place at the same time, will be a brilliant showcase for cycling and for Scotland.

"The exhibition allowed MSPs to trial the UCI virtual cycling simulation while hearing more about the variety of events which will be held across Scotland this summer.”

Construction began last September on the 1km floodlit cycle circuit in Linlithgow which will provide folk in West Lothian with a safe, traffic free cycling environment.

Funding for track

In September 2021, £636,011 was invested in the project by sportscotland’s Cycling Facility Fund.

More than £1.25 million has been raised to turn the project from a dream into a reality.

This included a successful Crowdfunder campaign in February 2020 which raised over £30,000.

Carole Racionzer, Chair of Linlithgow Community Development Trust, said: “After all the hard work and millions of hours of volunteer time, we are so excited to finally realise our vision in Linlithgow.

“This has been a true partnership between so many organisations and we can’t wait to see the facility in action.

"The facility is a fantastic outcome for cycle-sport, for community development, active travel and cycling tourism.”