A BMX track at a popular Evesham park will be given a new lease of life as part of a £200,000 revamp which has been given the green light by council chiefs.
The cycle track at Charity Brook Park was closed without warning by Wychavon council chiefs in November after officers admitted the track had reached the end of its natural life and the timbers on the track were rotting.
Council bosses called for local residents to make their voices heard over the future of the venue and revealed there had been ‘overwhelming’ support for replacing the track rather than doing something different with the space.
Speaking at a meeting of the executive board on Wednesday (January 9), Coun Emma Stokes admitted the depth of support for the popular venue had come as a surprise to council officers.
“We closed the cycle track believing it to be un-used and in disrepair and it caused uproar,” she said.
“We asked local people in a consultation and it seems like they want the track restored and it was used more than we envisaged.”
Councillors overwhelmingly approved a package of measures which includes a new track at Charity Brook Park to allow novice riders to practise their skills in a safe environment and more experienced cyclists to develop their abilities without jeopardising the safety of other park users.
Parks across the district will be given a new lease of life such as in Pershore where the popular wet play area is set to be resurfaced while a number of projects are being planned at parks in Droitwich.
The work will also see a footpath installed through Cotswold Rise running from Badsey Road to Broadway Road. This will connect it to an existing footpath across Lavenders Fields to ensure there is a surfaced path all along the route.
“The repairs have been on our mind since 2016 and in our strategy to get out and do so they are nothing new but its very nice when they come to fruition, Coun Stokes added.
Work on the new track will begin take place next year and after welcoming the investment Bengeworth councillor Martin King questioned why the revamp could not take place sooner.
In response, Coun Stokes stressed she wanted the work done as soon as possible.
