Council seeks help to secure the future of Heywood BMX track

A much-loved facility in Queen’s Park, Heywood, needs help to secure its long-term future.

The BMX bike track in the park has been an attraction for many years, providing thousands of bike riders the chance to take on the challenge of purpose-built turns and jumps - proving extremely popular to the young and young at heart.

Over time and due to various factors, the track’s surface has badly deteriorated, and the facility is currently closed for safety reasons.

Council funds have been used to carry out repairs over the years, but its loose stone construction requires a significant amount of maintenance.

 

 

A working figure to make the site compliant has been estimated at around £140,000 - £150,000.

Repairing sections of the track that have been condemned before reopening it for informal use would cost £55,000, whilst decommissioning the track would cost in the region of £5,000 to £10,000.

The track was given a cash injection of £18,000 back in 2009, when a local couple helped raise funds to revamp the track, thanks to the help of different organisations, including Heywood’s Young Spirit and the Community Cashback scheme.

The track was being utilised regularly by local bike group – Roch Valley Raiders, who held numerous successful events at the track, but unfortunately stopped using the site and moved to a new site in central Manchester.
 

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Now the council, which owns the land, is seeking help to get this facility open again to give it a sustainable future.

That help can come from individuals with an interest in cycling or accredited BMX groups who would like to form a sports club to manage and maintain the track for regular use, with the vision of possibly running events or training on an ongoing basis.

Last year the council unsuccessfully applied for funding through the Greater Manchester Green Spaces Fund to restore the track.

Any group or club interested in helping save the future of the track would be eligible to apply for additional external funding. The council will help support all grant applications from application through to submission with the aim of getting the track up to BMX England standards.

Councillor Liam O’Rourke, cabinet member for climate change and environment, said: “We really want to see the bike track back open as it is such a wonderful asset for Heywood.

“While we have some funding available for works needed to make the track safe for use again, we need more help to secure the track’s future in the longer term. Some of the grant applications that can be submitted need to show that the track will be used regularly and that there are interested parties that can help.

“So, if you are part of a sports club, group, or individuals who would like to know more about ways you can help, I urge you to get in touch, and let’s work together to get plans back on track.”

Ward councillor Bev Place added: “I am confident that we may finally be in with a realistic chance of getting the track re-opened and used.”

Any group interested would be fully supported by the council as required.

If you’d like to have your say on how the track operates in the future, please email the council's environmental management team on environmental.management@rochdale.gov.uk for further information.