Here are nearly all the possible options to get to/from FVRH without a car.
By Bus:
As previously mentioned getting there by bus requires changing in Falkirk which means people in Polmont have to use the 1, X38 or F25 and then transfer onto the 38 in Falkirk. We no longer have a proper bus station in Falkirk, so the transfer has to be made on Upper Newmarket Street which can sometimes become congested. Unfortunately, cuts to other services means that changing anywhere else is not an option. Travelling home involves rushing out when finishing on the hour or half-past the hour to catch the 38 at 4 or 34 minutes past which sometimes gets into Falkirk in time to connect with the F25 (which only operates every 2-hours), but otherwise requires the use of the X38 or 1 to complete our journeys home. As a consequence, transfers often involve hanging around between buses which isn't ideal during the cold winter, especially for elderly people who are most at risk of hypothermia and the whole journey each way can take up to an hour. They clearly haven't considered the people who finish work at those times when planning the schedules. This is a Braes-wide issue (it affects every community in the Braes, not just Polmont). It's worse for people in Whitecross who have to take the F1 to Maddiston or Linlithgow then the 1 or X38 to Falkirk for the 38 to FVRH.
By Train:
This involves travelling to Polmont Station and then catching a train to Larbert (10-15 minutes) for a connecting bus to FVRH (services 2, 7 & 8 taking between 5 & 15 minutes). Unfortunately, there is no bus to Polmont Station from Polmont Main Street (the only bus which directly serves Polmont Station is the 1 while the closest the F25 gets is to Meadowbank Health Centre, with the climb up the hill to the station having to be made on foot). Otherwise, its either a short car/taxi journey (about 5 minutes) or a 10-20 minute walk (depending on your fitness) in all weathers. This also affects people in Grangemouth as for many of them, Polmont is the nearest train station. The main drawback with doing this is the length of time it takes with having to hang around waiting for buses or trains so it's just as quick using buses alone (at least an hour in total).
By Taxi:
The quickest but most expensive of the three options listed. Depending on the route taken by the driver and the volumes of traffic, it can take about 20-30 minutes but it costs about £20 each way so this really isn't a viable option for most people (especially those on low incomes).
Given the current difficulties caused by inadequate transport options, the best options would be to resume a service from Maddiston to FVRH via Grangemouth & Skinflats or resume the full route of the 38/X38 (provided they can get vehicles that can fit under the bridge at Linlithgow). Unfortunately, the new electric buses which are now used on the 38 are about an inch too tall for the bridge at Linlithgow but at the same time the split in Falkirk was only supposed to have been temporary (during the COVID-19 Pandemic) but it was never reversed and other direct services were never reinstated which therefore leaves people without their own transport facing long & stressful journeys on a daily basis. We can no longer blame Covid for these issues, our communities need to stop being forgotten!