The tarmac path between the school and Albert Place includes new lighting to make it useable throughout the year.
The project was carried out by East Lothian Council following extensive engagement and consultation with key stakeholder groups and supported by Transport Scotland through the charity Walking Scotland’s Ian Findlay Path Fund. The council also made a funding contribution from its Active Travel Infrastructure budget.
Pupils from the school have been trying out the new route which has been named the Wallyford Express Path.
Councillor Colin McGinn, the council's Cabinet Spokesperson for Community Wellbeing and Sport, Countryside and Leisure, said: “I’m delighted that the path is complete, and pupils are benefitting from this safer and more inclusive way to travel to and from school.
“The path provides an attractive link between the surrounding residential area, the park beside Albert Place, and the school.
“With the sizeable population growth in Wallyford in recent years due to house building, enhanced active travel and off-road path networks are needed and I hope this will be a welcome addition to the community.”
Positive difference
Zena Diggle, headteacher at Wallyford Primary School, said: “I am so proud of our partnership with the parents, carers, and community at Wallyford.
“We cannot underestimate the importance of this new pathway for our children and young people which is already making such a positive difference. This will allow a further safer route to school and will help our walking bus go from strength to strength.”
Willie Gordon from the Wallyford Primary School Parents and Carers Council, which also backed the project, said: “The path is fantastic. Our thanks go to Walking Scotland and East Lothian Council for all their work and support. The children love the path and the wider community is also benefiting greatly from the new route.”
Rosie McKee, Walking Environments Development Officer at Walking Scotland, said: "Walking Scotland are pleased to celebrate the opening of this community-led project, which paves the way for children and families to choose to walk and wheel to school. The path is a great example of what can be achieved when communities and partners work together with a shared ambition to make everyday journeys safer, healthier and more enjoyable.
"It’s fantastic to see pupils already using the Wallyford Express Path, and we hope it will encourage even more families to build walking and wheeling into their daily routines.”
It is the latest travel improvement delivered by the council in the area following the recently opened Wallyford Bing path and the upgrading of a section of the long-established route connecting the village and historic Fa’side Castle.