New BMX Race Track for Markfield
LATEST NEWS 08-10-09
A further meeting was held on the 7th of October to discuss the commissioned track designs, costing, planning, pledges of commercial support, the forming of the BMX club and affiliated support, track site amenities and access, and project aspirations.
Though we can't go into too much detail at present, I can report that this was a very positive meeting. The estimated budget for this relatively ambitious project will be in the region of 30K...
We were encouraged by some very influential parties to raise our initial aspirations to provide a premier sports facility which could be used virtualy all year round by local, regional, and national riders for leisure, practice, and national racing. To meet this criteria the facility will be as `all-weather' as we can make it, it will be floodlit, it will have its own on-site building for storage and other uses, car parking, and a shared club house. We will also have bikes for hire to encourage new riders to BMX and, coaches to provide training and safe riding.
In order to gauge local interest in the project, we have posted information sheets in local schools and, the two local Halfords stores who I'm pleased to report have shown a lot of interest in the project. On the information sheets you are invited to leave your name, and your email address from which we can forward news letters about the project and, the new BMX Club when it is soon to be formed.
NEWS 02-10-09
Markfield, Ratby, & Groby Community Forum - Thursday the 1st of October
Andy Brettle presented a very well received proposal for the Markfield National BMX Track at the Community Forum held at South Charnwood High School last night. With £20,000 worth of funding available for worthy projects, the Markfield National BMX Track was discussed within the many workshops along with other worthy community projects within the Markfield, Ratby, and Groby districts.
After several projects were eliminated through the initial Forum voting procedure, the Markfield National BMX Track received the most votes during this process and progressed to the final vote that was to include the top nine worthy projects as voted by the Forum.
In the mix with a common interest was the Groby and Ratby BMX/Skate Park project; presented very enthusiastically, and supported in good numbers by the local youths who were bidding for funding to enable them to do a feasibility study into the construction of successful local BMX/Skate Park in Groby - many of the youths are riding up to the Markfield BMX/Skate Park to use their facility which understandably is causing concerns from a safety point-of-view.
Voting amongst the final nine projects was very close and the results showed a surprising amount of support for both sporting youth projects in the area; the Markfield National BMX Track and the Groby and Ratby BMX/Skate Park taking 44% of the Forum vote, finnishing 2nd and 1st respectively - the Family Well Being Clinic project taking third with 20% of the vote.
The next meeting will be on Thursday the 12th of November - update to follow
NEWS 13-08-09
We can confirm that there is an error of terminology in the this months Herald...
The facility will be a BMX Race Track and NOT a mountain bike facility.
Local County Councilor David Sprason and former National BMX rider Andy Brettle have already covered a lot of groundwork and their enthusiasm and determination to bring this project to fruition can not be understated. We must however all appreciate that the project is still in its early stages of development and a lot of necessary preparation is still awaiting completion.
So far...
An excellent site at Altar Stones Lane has been made available by the Local Council.
The project is very ambitious and both David and Andy are aiming for the highest standard of track design and construction - to national standard - and best in England.
Andy is in posession of several detailed track design drawings to fit the Altar Stones Lane site but is still awaiting further drawings which are now due imminently. Once all the drawings have been assessed, the best track design will be selected and presented to the Local Council and the British Cycling Federation for approval.
Andy has preference for a challenging free-flowing design to enable all ages and skill levels to participate.
A local BMX Racing Club will soon be established and all will be welcome. BMX as we know is now an established Olympic Sport and we hope to encourage young and old BMX riders to take an interest and support the club.
Andy will soon be completing his final BMX coaching course and when qualified he will be a huge assest to the development of local riders. Andy was a regular top National BMX Racer so his knowledge and experience will be invaluable.
A major proportion of the funding for the project is hoped to come from The British Cycling Federation and the Local County Council. It is anticipated that to acheive the very high standards of the project, more funding will be required from the private sector; Andy also has a lot of professional experience in this area.
We are encouraging as many local people as possible who are interested in BMX or cycling to support this very exciting project. This facility has so many positive benefits for the fitness and occupation of our present and future youth and for this key reason we hope for the support of our local communitties.
Please contact us so we can inform you of meetings and dates.
Please bear-in-mind, there is still a lot of hard work and Hoops to jump through.
Nothing is certain - but a lot of time, effort, and enthusiasm is going into the project - stay tuned.
GlennM
Email: tobolitech@yahoo.co.uk
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