We’ve pulled together this infographic to give you an idea of what things cost and what your donations will be used for.
Our campaign is raising money to pay for the circuit’s floodlights. They’re an essential part of our planning that will allow folk to use the circuit all year round, in the evening or before work (or school!) in the morning.
But did you know one light costs £1,185? We need 27 for the perimeter of phase 1, so our £30k #Letsbuildit crowdfunder will be a massive boost with your help.
Here’s a run down of other costs (Can you believe a gate costs £1,000!)
1 metre of kerb £15 1 metre of fencing £31 1 metre² access path £42 1 metre² track £58 1 metre of 6m-wide track £346 1 floodlight £1,185 1 pedestrian gate £1,000 (We need 3 of these) 1 vehicular access gate £1,500 (2 of these) 1 storage unit £2,700
The local cycling community has shown amazing support for of our plans to build a 1km traffic-free, floodlit cycle circuit in Linlithgow.
West Lothian Clarion Cycling Club have backed the project from the beginning and have contributed almost £13,000 to the campaign. £6,000 is directly from club funds with the remainder from fundraising activities like races, merchandise sales and calendar sales.
We’re overwhelmed by the support that the Clarion has given us: crucially the club stepped in at critical points over the last 6 years, making sure enough funds were available for a business plan and planning application.
Club President Diane Clayton-Chisholm said “West Lothian Clarion are backing this project because it will create more opportunities for people to ride their bikes. It will bring new people into the sport, benefiting local clubs and creating an environment where women and children, especially, can develop their skills and confidence.
The project team are incredibly grateful to the local cycling community who have been so generous with their support, Matthew Ball from the project said “Local cycling clubs have been so encouraging, they can see the benefits their members will get from having this cycle circuit, not just for today but for generations to come.”
The Clarion aren’t the only local club to back the project. Edinburgh RC donated £2,500. Club president Phil Darby said “We want to support more facilities in Scotland to keep up with the number of youngsters and new riders taking up the sport”
Falkirk Junior Bike Club recently donated £1000. Club chair Mark Drackford said “Providing a regular opportunity for our riders to develop their road cycling skills in a safe environment has long been an aspiration of the club, and therefore we are keen to demonstrate our support for the Circuit, ”
Falkirk adult bike club donated £1,000 on behalf of the Tom Anderson Memorial Fund in 2018. The fund was set up in memory of the former captain of Falkirk Bicycle Club.
Livingston Cycling Club and Kinross Cycling Club have each donated £500 and the National Clarion Cycling club have donated a further £1000
Matthew Ball said “I’d like to reach out to other cycling clubs and ask them to donate to this amazing cause. If we want to secure cycling for today’s members and also future generations, we must act now to build a diverse cycling infrastructure.
The West Lothian Cycle Circuit will be the perfect place to train and develop volunteers says British Cycling Road National Commissaire, Hendrik Nahler.
A closed circuit for bicycle racing creates many opportunities for youths riders to develop their bike riding skills, confidence and race craft. To enable racing, we require officials (commissaires) who equally need to be trained and need to gain experience.
There is no better place than a traffic-free environment such as a closed circuit to learn the key skills of an official particularly in areas such as judging and the monitoring of race development.
My own journey as a commissaire started in 2012 in the North-East of England on the closed circuits in Middlesbrough, Hetton Lyons Park and the Nissan Test Circuit.
It was a great and very valuable training opportunity. The initial qualification as Circuit Commissaire allowed me then to progress to become a Road Regional Commissaire in 2014 here in Scotland.
I and my fellow commissaire colleagues continuously train new commissaires, often starting out on closed circuit events. The opportunity for bicycle racers to have more training and racing opportunities on the West Lothian Cycle Circuit will also create opportunities to further the training of new officials who will support this fabulous sport, on the circuit as well as on the road.
Ben Rowlings is a Linlithgow based athlete who competes in the T34 100m, 400m and 800m wheelchair racing events for athletes with cerebral palsy.
Ben says the West Lothian Cycle Circuit would have a big impact on wheelchair racers in Scotland “This facility would benefit not just myself on the lead up to world championships and Paralympic Games but also other wheelchair athletes aspiring to reach the highest level.”
Originally from Shrewsbury, and studying at Stirling University, Ben moved to Linlithgow in 2019 with his partner Alice.
Ben has competed in three European Championships, three World Championships and the Rio 2016 Paralympics, winning two silver medals at the Euros.
Ben says: “To have a facility like the one planned would have a massive impact on my training leading up to major championships.”
“Although I am primarily a track athlete a large proportion of my training is done on roads to get the miles in, especially over the winter months. So having a facility like this on my doorstep would massively increase the quality, of not only my training but also my recovery in between sessions.”
“Having a facility like the one planned would also have a wider reaching impact on wheelchair racers in Scotland. To have a well kept, safe road that we could train on would bring in athletes from other parts of Scotland to Linlithgow.”
West Lothian Cycle Circuit 