Wheely good facility honoured at awards
Judges praise transformation of Strathclyde site
A popular Lanarkshire cycling facility has been honoured at a national awards ceremony, with judges praising the transformation of “a previously unmaintained space into a showpiece new attraction”.
The pump track and new gateway to Strathclyde Country Park was named as one of the runners-up in the streets and spaces category at the Scotland Loves Local awards, held in Dundee.
It includes mountain biking facilities as well as sports lighting, natural play areas, woodland and wildlife trails plus signposted routes at the Bellshill entrance to the park.
The pump track and new gateway area opened last year and have immediately proved popular with park visitors.
Judges at the national awards noted: “The gateway provides a number of new facilities to previously under-served communities in Bellshill and North Motherwell.
“It also encourages recreation in the local area rather than using cars to travel further afield and supporting the 20-minute neighbourhood concept.
“The facilities were developed and designed in close consultation with local cyclists and residents to ensure their needs were met, for example including a natural play area and nature trail to entertain younger children while their older siblings were cycling, supporting parents and carers to bring the whole family together.”
It was created by North Lanarkshire Council as part of its park masterplan, with additional funding from sportscotland, Scotland Loves Local, Smarter Choices Smarter Places and the Place Based Investment Program.
Dan Scott, managing director of cycling group Social Track, is pleased the new facility has been so well used since its grand opening.
He said: “It’s been so well used, we’ve had thousands of people visit – and there are only two tracks like this worldwide. It’s incredibly bespoke.”
Strathclyde Park’s new cycling facilities also now feature in Greenspace Scotland’s online Parks4Life photo gallery after being highlighted as a favourite venue of local mum and son Shona and Zac Bowie.
The awards were hosted by STV presenter Sean Batty, who praised the “simply amazing” finalists, and were organised by Scotland’s Towns Partnership to “reward remarkable work taking place to improve communities”.
Its chair, Professor Leigh Sparks, said: “Everyone nominated for a Scotland Loves Local Award is playing their part in creating a better future for their community.
“We should be proud of them all, as we should of all the unsung heroes working every day across the country.
“Their vision, determination, entrepreneurship and creativity is exactly what we need to create a stronger Scotland.”