West Lothian Council’s Fauldhouse and Breich Valley Local Area Committee heard an update on the project, which is estimated to cost £960,000.

Council officers are continuing to work with Sustrans, who have provided additional funding from their Places for Everyone fund, over the scheme.

The funding will help progress the design of the new bridge over the A706, allowing residents a safe way across the busy road. A detailed design is expected to be completed by the end of June 2023.

An area of the embankment on the west side of the A706 was cleared in December 2022 to allow survey work to be carried out, with further ground investigation planned to be carried out during the week commencing 16 January 2023. 

Discussions are ongoing with landowners along the route between Bents and the A706, and regular meetings are held with members of the local community over the project.