Planning permission granted for new Hillingdon velodrome
Planning permission has been granted for a new velodrome within the site of the existing road circuit at Hillingdon in London, leaving campaigners with three years to raise the £1.25 million required to build it.
The 250-metre banked track, which will have minimal seating and use existing offices and facilities within the Hillingdon facility, will conform to designs suggested by British Cycling, whom the Hillingdon Cycle Circuit Users Group are relying on for support.
Now the users group must show the circuit will be well used if they are to get full support from British Cycling in applying for grant funding from organisations such as UK Sport or the National Lottery.
“An initial mailing of riders who competed in road races at Hillingdon has already drawn a number of positive replies,” said Stuart Benstead, chairman of the group. “And it is also intended that BC head office will send a similar message to Central Region clubs and race licence holders.”
The new track is intended to be used mainly for rider development, and while track leagues may well be held the venue’s minimal seating means they won’t be trying to attract major events from other tracks.
Planning permission was previously granted for a velodrome on the site when the current road circuit was constructed in 1995, but a lack of funding and some ecological protests put the idea on hold.
The Hillingdon Cycle Circuit Users Group is asking for messages of support, and indications that the circuit will be well used, to be emailed to hillingdon.velodrome@icloud.com