New £600k cycle track ready June
Around £600,000 has been spent on converting what was once a flooded field into a cycling track after two years of work.
Mark Ragan, director of Community Sport at Brooksbank, says the Elland school already offer a range of cycling-based activities which the new track will complement well.
Mr Ragan said: “We have been working along with Pedalsport, the local go ride club, and other community partners for the last two years to get a closed road circuit at school.
“At Brooksbank we already have our own club, a number of cyclo-cross races each year, numerous trips to the velodrome, and mountain biking for 90 year seven students every year. We also host the Calderdale Schools cycling Championships.
“The track should be finished in June, and we’ll hope- fully be using it by the end of that month too, although it will officially be opened in August. “There’s been a massive amount of work done on it.
“We ’ v e spent £600,000 on it overall and it’s cost £120,000 just to fix the drainage. Mr Ragan says the track is part of an effort by the school to leave a legacy of cycling in the area, with all students to be offered cy- cling on the curriculum.
“We want to make it a real legacy for the whole area to be used by everyone in the community,” he says.
“We don’t just want the school to use it by any means.
“We also want to work with local clubs and community groups so they can have access to it.
“There will be a sevenweek window after it’s finished when we’ll really look to maximise the use of it before the summer holidays.
“We’ll also be holding a summer camp during the holidays. We want to attract thousands of new cyclists in the area with it.”