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Redditch Premiers BMX Track Re:Development

Posted March 8 2010
Words And Photography By Richard Robotham

Official Club Website | Redditch Borough Council | BikeTrack | Lawfield Contracts | RLB
Redditch Jam Story - August 2007 | September 2007

Richard Robotham - British Cycling's lead BMX correspondent - reports in from Redditch Premiers' brand new BMX facility. An extraordinary story centring on the very first BMX track in Britain, it's demise and ultimate re-incarnation as a leading local facility supported by British Cycling and the surrounding cycling community.

In 2007 the Redditch Premiers BMX Club asked me to come down to the Redditch Skate Park to look at the facilities and take some images of the "Full Speed Jam" freestyle competition they were running. I obviously jumped at the opportunity as I'd never seen this style of riding before apart from some Dirt Jumps. I can honestly say that it was very enjoyable witnessing the bike handling skills and stunning acrobatics both young and old BMX'ers can do on 20" and 24" wheels. It can only be described as awesome and I wished this style of competition was around when I was racing on two wheels.

Whilst there I noticed a plot of land next to the skate park which was rather overgrown but resembled a short version of the BMX track. I made further enquiries to Redditch Premiers BMX Club Member Benn Thombs who confirmed that it was an old style BMX track; in fact it was the very first BMX track built in Britain. Benn also informed me that the club and British Cycling were looking into funding to rejuvenate BMX in the Midlands and were hopeful of gaining the necessary funding to build a brand new track to be situated on land currently used as a football playing field. They were fully supported by a local politician and former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith who also attended events held at the skate park.

Well the time has now arrived; British Cycling and Redditch Premiers have secured the necessary funding along with Redditch Borough Council. The site for the BMX Track is next to the Redditch Skate Park, situated within the picturesque Wild Goose Playing Fields which forms part of the Arrow Valley Country Park owned by Redditch Borough Council. The area is specifically set out as a nature reserve with facilities for jogging, BMX, skateboarding and inline skaters.

The main contractor - Lawfield Contracts Ltd - is on site carrying out the civil and building works which is being supervised by rider Levett Bucknall. The track itself will be constructed with material from other sites in the area under special licence. Gary Lawrence of Lawfield Contracts was confident in having all the construction materials in place so that their specialist sub-contractor could construct the eight lane BMX Track in time for a summer opening.

Bike Track have been appointed as in this position to undertake the formation of the BMX Track. They have over twenty years of experience in building BMX and MTB in the UK. The drawings available certainly give the impression of an exciting roller coaster with starting gates at a height of four metres, three 180 degree berms of increasing difficulty, various rollers, doubles, triples and tabletops along the four straights which will test even the best riders.

Works on site are progressing well with the boundary fencing already erected, the lighting and power cabling already run underground to various key locations around the site. This is fed from an existing brick built building which also forms part of the BMX Facility.

This highly secure building was formally the football changing rooms. It has virtually been rebuilt internally to give much improved changing and shower facilities. There is also an area specifically for the Redditch Premiers BMX Club. The tiled areas throughout the building have been given the Redditch Premiers "Home" colours of Red and Dark Blue which gives a rather funky and fresh look to the premises. A new roof has been installed and every room is heated and fitted out with very modern fixtures and fittings. This building will definitely be a benefit to the Club and the local community.

Rider Levett Bucknall, Britain's leading contract administrators has Senior Building Surveyor Elliot Dinsdale overseeing the project. Elliot regularly takes part in cyclocross events both at regional and National levels and is a member of Cult Racing. Elliot said that he was very pleased to have been asked by RLB to oversee this exciting project and hoped to be the first to ride the BMX track when it was finished in the summer.

Kevin Cook of Redditch Borough Council is happy with the way the project is going and said that the project is an important development for Redditch and will be bring much needed Regional and National Events to the area. He is also hopeful for International Events to be organised at the venue in years to come. Kevin also added that the fully renovated building is thought to be the only of its kind on a BMX track in Britain.