Volunteers behind the West Lothian Cycle Circuit celebrated this week when it was announced that construction will begin in September on the £1.25 million world class facility in Linlithgow.

The new amenity at Linlithgow Leisure Centre is a 1km traffic-free, tarmac circuit made up of 4 loops that will be fenced and floodlit for all year round use by cyclists, runners and all-ability users.

The community-led project, managed by local charity Linlithgow Community Development Trust (LCDT) will provide an exciting range of supported cycling sessions for people of all ages and abilities from across West Lothian. 

Carole Racionzer, Chair of LCDT, says “This amazing 1km facility is designed for the whole community. People will have access to a safe, traffic-free space for learning to ride, for cycle sport and for enjoying the outdoors.”

The total project is expected to cost £1.25 million. £636,000 has been provided via the Scottish Cycling and Sportscotland Cycling Facilities Fund, which aims to deliver a lasting impact from the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, hosted in Glasgow and Scotland in August 2023. West Lothian Council is providing £349,000 with the remaining costs met by a range of external funders, including community fundraising. 

Sophie McCall, Scottish Cycling Head of Development & Participation said, “Scottish Cycling is delighted to be able to invest in the development of this facility, and we look forward to continuing to work with local partners to bring the circuit to life and ensure it has a lasting impact for both the local community and the cycling community”

LCDT’s plans to build a 1km circuit began after a community consultation in 2012 and the charity have since been campaigning and fundrasing, with an impressive £77,000 donated through community fundraising.

Carole says, “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, a fantastic outcome for cycle-sport, for community development, for active travel and for cycling tourism. 

Local cycling club West Lothian Clarion have backed the project from the outset, with the new facility providing much needed space to deliver more coaching sessions and reduce its waiting list.

Clarion coach Matthew Ball says, “This will be a game changer for cycling in the region. We want to build a community around the the circuit and make it a ‘cycling hub’. The Clarion and other local clubs will organise races and coaching sessions for adults and youngsters, so Linlithgow will be a real hotspot for cycling.”

The circuit has a wide ranging user group including the general public, as Carole explains: “Cycling, running, triathlon and even skating groups want to book the facility. But everyone can use the circuit in public sessions, just like using the swimming pool. If you feel a bit wobbly on a bike, this is the place to build your confidence either with a bit of coaching or just riding about in a safe space with friends.” 

The running community have been long time supporters, Angus Gallie, President of Linlithgow Athletics Club, says, “LAC are proud to have been involved and supportive of this project from its concept. We are looking forward to using the circuit for club sessions involving experienced runners, joggers and beginners. A great day for the power of community effort.” 

Fraser Falconer, who spearheaded the project for 6 years as former chair of LCDT, says, “This is a great achievement for the Trust and all of the West Lothian Cycle Circuit volunteers. We wouldn’t be here without our funding partners, and the work West Lothian Council has done to procure and build this excellent facility. Many individuals and organisations have donated funds and time to get this project across the line. Thank you all so much.”

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Over £1.2million has been raised so far but one of the major success stories of our fundraising campaign has been the £77K raised through community fundraising. Cyclists, triathletes, runners, their respective clubs and the wider local community have got involved, volunteered, donated and raised funds to help realise our ground-braking cycle circuit project

The #RollerChallenge (see video) was just one initiative where cyclists from youngsters to superstars rode their rollers and donated to the fundraiser and raised over £6000 in the process!

16 local cycling, triathlon and running clubs have made donations which goes to show the support a cycle circuit has across Scotland, with clubs as far away as Stonehaven making a contribution

Other fundraisers have included the sale fo mugs, prints and calendars and of course we raised over £33,000 with our amazing #LetsBuildit Crowdfunder

The cycle circuit will give a massive boost to peoples’ mental and physical health by by providing a safe space to form a habit of a healthier lifestyle. Our project will create a supportive community hub linking all of West Lothian’s outdoor facilities like Beecraigs, SUSTRANS paths and pump tracks, creating a more sustainable, healthier and better connected community

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For a month prior to West Lothian Clarion‘s annual Santa Cyclo-Cross race, the club had been coaching adults and youngsters in the fun off-road discipline that’s a great grass-roots way to get into racing.

The plan worked! The 2021 event broke records with more folk than ever before taking part in the fancy-dress event. Over 150 Santas, elves, Christmas puddings, unicorns and reindeers of all ages rode around the course in the grounds of Xcite in Linlithgow, with over £1000 raised in the sale of merchandise and refreshments.

The event and proved that the best way to get people cycling is to develop a community spirit around a cycling hub and provide fun sessions to coach and build confidence in folk who may not have cycled for some time.

The coaching and racing took place where the West Lothian Cycle Circuit is planned and is a great template to develop and build upon once the 1km traffic free facility is constructed.

Photos by John Love with others provided

The bicycle is a machine that fights climate change and furthermore, we believe our project will get more people cycling by providing a fun, safe traffic-free space to build confidence and develop skills.

Swinging a leg over a bike after a break from cycling can be an intimidating experience for folk who haven’t cycled since a child, or older people who want to get moving on two wheels. But our bicycle boosting space will be the ideal remedy for two wheeled nerves and help develop a cycling habit.

The community focus and cycling development ‘pathway’ at the core of the West Lothian Cycle Circuit will make it the ideal facility for young people to improve their ‘Bikability’ skills and for adults to return to the joys of riding a bicycle again.

Our goal is to get more folk cycling, boosting active travel in the area, and reducing our impact on our environment.

The Scottish Government and sportscotland, in conjunction with Scottish Cycling, have announced the first nine projects to receive investment from the £8 million Cycling Facilities Fund.

Projects from the Borders to the Highlands will share £1,554,633 to develop accessible, inclusive and inspiring facilities, which will be at the heart of our cycling communities.

We are delighted to receive an investment of £636,011 from the fund, which means we have have raised over £1.2m towards making this project a reality.

Fraser Falconer, Chair of Linlithgow Community Development Trust notes “The new facility being built will represent a tremendous achievement for our community, creating a wonderful place to nurture a love of cycling for people of all ages and inclusive for all. After years of hard work from local volunteers and supporters, the recognition by sportscotland and West Lothian Council gives great inspiration to us as we link the delivery of the cycle circuit to active travel, healthy living, social inclusion and improving health and well-being.”

Matthew Ball from West Lothian Clarion said “The circuit will be a game changing facility for people in West Lothian looking to gain confidence, ride their bikes and have fun in a safe traffic free environment. Securing this funding isn’t the finish line for the project, its the start line for amazing events, activities, coaching and day to day riding for thousand of people in the county. The Clarion would like to thank all partners and volunteers involved in the project who have worked together tirelessly over the last few years.