Bikers pumped up over park’s skills track
ACROWD of 150 people helped open the Valley’s newest £30,000 leisure facility.
A new bike skills track, a pump track, was unveiled at Stubbylee Park, in Bacup, in an event that saw some of the guests turn up to have their first go on the new track.
Rossendale council, in partnership with Newground, obtained funding for the track from the Lancashire Environment Fund and installed the facility next to the existing skate park as part of the ongoing redevelopment at Stubbylee.
Newground landscape architect Lorcan Moriarty, said: “We’ve worked closely with the council, community groups and the wider local community over the last 12 months to get to this point.
“Newground oversaw the tender procedure and work on site in conjunction with Dirtworks BMX, who designed and constructed the track, to create a real asset for Bacup and the local community.”
The track is part of the Stubbylee masterplan, which has been developed by the partnership between Rossendale council, Newground, Bacup Pride, Friends of Stubbylee Park and Stubbylee Greenhouses.
Mr Moriarty added: “It’s an amazing facility and we were so pleased by the turnout at the official opening.
“Dirtworks BMX and [it’s founder] Phil Charnley’s reputation clearly precedes him as it’s clear that the pump track is a hit and it’s another example of the fantastic projects Newground delivers and is involved with.”
A pump track is a continuous loop of humps and banked turns that allows users to ride by ‘pumping’ rather than pedalling and is similar in design to an Olympic BMX track, on a smaller scale.
The track has been designed to be suitable for beginners and improvers as well as established bike riders. It will be used to develop mountain bike and BMX skills and create a safe play space for all ages and skill levels.
Liz Hughes, from the Friends of Stubbylee Park, said: “It was such a pleasure seeing so many people in the park enjoying themselves. I’m really looking forward to the next phase to revitalise the pond area.”
Newground will also provide cycle support and training to help people use the track with sessions during the Easter holidays.
A cycling session will be held on the track on April 12 and a bike workshop on April 13.
Part of the Stubbylee masterplan will be the £50,000 redevelopment of Stubbylee Barn into a ‘mixed use building’ which includes a cafe, community cinema, market trading hall, arts centre and function room.