COUNCIL chiefs will be asked to approve a £1million bid to fund the construction of a dedicated Cycle Centre for the town at The Valley at a meeting of Wychavon’s executive board.
The bold bid to unveil a celebration of cycling could be confirmed at a meeting on Wednesday (March 18) when councillors will be asked to approve the seven-figure sum for the venue and associated pavilion.
It’s expected the funding will comprise a £500,000 grant from Sport England with the remainder to be made up of the council’s own funds and money secured from housing developers across the district.
In 2019 the council explored options relating to a potential off road cycling or walking circuit at the proposed 3G pictches and pavillion adjacent to Evesham United Spiers and Hartwell Jubilee Stadium.
During discssions. Wychavon’s Community Development Manager Jem Teal was made aware of an opportunity to work in partnership with Eagle One, the land owner of The Valley.
Local partners including Cycle Evesham Vale, ‘H-bug’ and British Cycling were brought together to develop a concept for the site.
This included an ability track, specifically catering for disabled riders, mountain bike trails, a simulated road circuit and a tarmac velodrome.
A pump track, a circuit of banked turns where riders move their bikes by moving up and down rather than pedalling or pushing, will also be be part of the plans.
An application has already been submitted to British Cycling and Sport England’s ‘Places to Ride Programme.’ This is a two-stage application process and last month Wychavon District Council was invited through to the final stage of the funding bid.
Following a site meeting with Sport England in February, it became apparent funding for the Places to Ride Programme was dependent on the Government and as such the project needs to be delivered during the 2020/21 financial year.
Should the project have been funded through Sport England’s Lottery funding there would have been scope to progress the project over a longer timespan.
“The council has a new promise to work with partners to create a multi-purpose cycling attraction including a BMX pump track, mountain bike trails and a simulated road circuit in Evesham by 31 March 2024,” the report to councillors read.
