Peel Park On Track

 

News Posted: 15 May 2008

 

Work is starting next week on a brand new BMX cycle track at Bradford's Peel Park. Bradford Council's Leisure Service has been working in partnership with Sport England, British Cycling and Bradford Bandits BMX Racing Club to provide a new state-of-the-art professionally designed cycle track. Work on the track starts on Monday 19 May.

The £175,000 project will be funded by the Council's Leisure Service, British Cycling through the Sport England's Community Club Development Programme and Bradford Bandits. The track will be designed to national standards as it will attract competitions to Bradford as well as being for use by club members and the local community.

Peel Park held the prestigious National cyclo-cross trophy for the second time last year when the Green Flag park was turned into an enormous racing circuit.

The Bradford Bandits work to educate young people about safety with the Go-Ride initiative and coaching with schools, but they also encourage people to take part in the sport and cycling activities.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, Bradford Council's Executive Member for Environment and Culture, said: "This track will not only benefit the clubs that use it but also the local community and I am sure that it will attract national sporting events to the district."

Jeremy Brown, Club Secretary of BMX Bandits, said: "The Club provides the opportunity for local people young and old to come and take part in this exciting sport in a safe and friendly environment.

"With BMX Racing becoming an Olympic sport this year the Club is expecting this to create even more interest in the sport with the track at Bradford becoming a British Cycling training venue for riders hoping to take part in the 2012 London Olympics.

"The Club will be working in the future to maximise the use of the facility by having coaches and equipment (bikes and helmets) available to run sessions whenever necessary."

The Club will continue to run training sessions on Saturday mornings on the playing fields adjacent to the BMX track from 10.30am till 1pm while the new track is being built. These sessions will be supervised by the Club's British Cycling qualified coaches and anyone is welcome to take part.