Hopes high of new Venny bike track this year

The Craigneuk Action Sports Kollective have spoken of their hopes for a new bike track to open this year.

The proposal was submitted last year after North Lanarkshire Council were awarded £200,000 of funding from the Scottish Government’s Vacant and Derelict Land Fund.

CASK, in conjunction with Wishaw Mountain Biking Club, held meetings with residents last year where the plans were backed by residents.

Now Daniel Scott, CASK member and Wishaw Mountain Biking Club secretary, hopes the turn of the year can help kick-start the project.

He said:“Both CASK and Wishaw Mountain Biking Club are community-based groups rather than a sports club. We encourage participation rather than competition. We do have events coming up throughout the year and we actively seek involvement from as many people as possible from the community.

“CASK has mostly been involved in the early stages of working in a voluntary partnership with the Craigneuk Community Council, North Lanarkshire Council and Central Scotland Green Networks to help develop a bike track in the Venny area between Wishawhill and Craigneuk.”

The Central Scotland Green Network Trust (CSGNT) will deliver the project, which will also include improvements to the woodland and paths in Wishawhill Wood.

CASK’s Neil Morrison added:“This has been a project I’ve had for a while and the aim is to use active sport in the community to help give youngsters something to do. We can use this track as a focal point and bring in jobs as well as working to give people more skills. We’d like to start them off at the track in primary school and make it an important part of the community.”