This is a circular to emailable Spokes members in (or near) West Lothian.

SPOKES WEST LOTHIAN & LIVINGSTON BIKE MAPS

Spokes intends to bring out a new edition of our West Lothian cycle map in June this year.  This edition is intended to feature a detailed Livingston bike map on the reverse.

You can help!!  Please email tim@vizualz.co.uk  if you can help with either of the following...

• Let us know about any mistakes on the existing Spokes WL map.  We will get details of main new facilities from the council, but please let us know of any mistakes on the existing map, or any small improvements which have happened and which we might miss.
• If you have any good, bright, sharp photos of cyclists in recognisable West Lothian locations which might be suitable for the cover of the new map, we would be interested.  Please do not send them in yet, but let Tim know.   Ideally we don't want everyone wearing helmets, and we don't want all adult males!

AIRDRIE-BATHGATE PATH RIDE, 10 April

The replacement bike path beside the new Airdrie-Bathgate rail line is now largely complete, although will not be totally finished for a while yet.    A fun ride along the path is being organised by West Lothian CTC group, and we understand that some people from Go-Bike, the Glasgow campaign group, will also be going along. 

Details:  On Sunday, 10 Apr 2011 Celebrate the Opening of the Bathgate Airdrie Cycle Path.  The run will depart from Xcite Gym Car Park, (EH54 6QT) just outside Almondell Shopping Centre, Livingston. There is a café and toilets at the departure point. 10 a.m. for a 10.15 a.m. departure.  Details http://www.meetup.com/Livingston-West-Lothian-Cyclists-Touring-Club/

WHITECROSS DEVELOPMENT - PUBLIC HEARING 26 APRIL 7PM

Spokes submitted comments on the proposed massive development (1500 houses, employment, community buildings, new road connections, etc) at Whitecross just outside Linlithgow (but in Falkirk Council area).   Councillors are to hold a special evening hearing, as above, from those who sent in comments.   If anyone would be willing to be the Spokes rep to speak up on behalf of our submission, please contact me.

Points we asked for included safe, pleasant and direct links to Linlithgow and to Polmont Station.  The ideal Linlithgow link would be the existing minor road, redesignated for pedestrian/cycle and access use only - with bollards across it at one point.   Otherwise, too, this will become a rat-run for the new residents.  The ideal link to Polmont would be to surface the canal towpath.

Linlithgow Cycle Action Group also submitted comments, so hopefully we won't be alone at the hearing.

WL CWSS FUNDING

Thank you to everyone who has written to West Lothian councillors over the last couple of years, asking them to invest their 'Cycling, Walking, Safer Streets' government grant in cycling, especially given that zero of it has gone to cycling until recently (the worst-equal record of any Scottish council!)

As a result of the considerable pressure on councillors from such letters, and from other groups such as Linlithgow Cycle Action Group, who have several times lobbied local councillors in person, things are looking up!   For 2010/11 around 30% of the council's £303k CWSS money went to cycling investment - this included a contribution to the lovely new 3m signed and lit path near the new Linlithgow Springfield car park.    For 2011/12, 100% (of the reduced £246k govenment grant) has been agreed for cycling!  The government has also recently issued advice to councils, recommending they put at least 36% of CWSS money into cycling investment, but West Lothian's 100% can be put down to local pressure.
The plans for 2011/12 include projects across the county, and are shown here...
http://www.westlothian.gov.uk/sitecontent/news/archive/2011/February/cycling

Moreover, the council cycle officer is hoping to use the 2011/12 CWSS money as 'match funding' to attract further funds from grant-giving bodies, notably Sustrans.  If you wish to suggest local projects in your area [whether cycle routes, or things as small as a couple of Sheffield racks at your local shops] please contact the cycle officer, tobias.bauer@westlothian.gov.uk.

Best wishes
Dave du Feu
for Spokes