Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Back to news
news
Community
Infrastructure
£4.5m cycle track and sports pavilion planned for Leeds suburbUniversity of Leeds logo.jpg

£4.5m cycle track and sports pavilion planned for Leeds suburb

Project would need to be completed by October otherwise funding would be at risk
by Alex Bowden
Wed, Jan 27, 2016 15:45
6

There are plans to develop a new 1.6km asphalt closed road cycle circuit near Leeds. The University of Leeds is looking to team up with UK Sport and British Cycling to develop the £4.5m facility with hopes that the work could be completed by October.

The Yorkshire Post reports that land on the university’s Bodington playing fields near Adel, north of the city’s ring road, has been earmarked for the project, which would also see Bodington sports pavilion refurbished.

Rob Wadsworth, Head of Sport at the University of Leeds, said:

“The University of Leeds is committed to sporting excellence and to opening up its facilities for the benefit of the public and this cycle track is a big part of that.

“We excel at cycling, our students are consistently at the top of their sport in the UK and the proposed track has the backing of key sport and cycling bodies.

“We look forward to meeting elected representatives and local residents to explain the plans and answer any questions they may have. Arrangements for a community consultation session are currently being finalised.”

UK Sport and British Cycling would provide £1m in funding, leaving the university to contribute the remaining £3.5m. An application has not yet been made for planning permission, but it is hoped that work could begin as early as March.

Pothole-filling drones to be developed at University of Leeds

One potential stumbling block would be if the scheme missed its October deadline for completion. Wadsworth said that if this window were missed, the funding from British Cycling and UK Sport could not be guaranteed.

The Bodington site is currently used primarily for grass sports and these would continue after the developments. The new cycle circuit would be available for use by staff, students and the wider community, while it is hoped the upgraded sports pavilion might serve as a permanent base for Britain’s triathletes.

Olympic triathlete Jonny Brownlee commented: “It would take the triathlon facilities to the next level and make Leeds the complete triathlon city. We really hope that these plans go ahead.”

Leeds
University of Leeds
Bodington cycle circuit
Alex Bowden

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

Add new comment

6 comments

Avatar
severs1966 | 8 years ago
1 like

I wonder how much cycle parking they will build? Or will they expect, as seems the norm these days, for everyone to turn up in a car?

I wonder how much cycle parking that Leeds Council will mandate as a minimum requirement for the planning permission? If their planning consents for recent retail developments are anything to go by, that will be "almost none".

Avatar
Chris James | 8 years ago
0 likes

There is also an outoor velodrome at York Sport Village.

 

Avatar
Danger Dicko | 8 years ago
0 likes

It's a shame it doesn't include a velodrome, even an outdoor one.

Living on South/West Yorkshire border I have to travel to either Derby or Manchester to use an indoor velodrome or Scunthorpe or Mansfield for an asphalt outdoor track. All over an hours drive.

A velodrome in either Leeds or Sheffield would be ideal.

Avatar
Chris James | 8 years ago
0 likes

I'm not quite sure what your point is here? The Leeds track's proposed funding is by the University and British Cycling, neither of whom are responsible for putting in cycle lanes, so it is not like the tracks would be at the expense of any cycling infrastructure.

Also, miles of cycle lanes are useful for commuters, but totally useless for kids being taught cycling skills in traffic free environments for example.

I would have thought most cyclists would be please schools and universities proposing spending large amounts of money on infrastructure that will encourage bike use. I don't see how the 'car lobby' are in any way relevant in this instance?

Incidentally, juding by the costs of the Wakefield circuit then I would have thought at least half the budget for the Leeds facility would be put towards upgrading the sports pavillion.

Avatar
frogg | 8 years ago
1 like

how much miles of cyclepath you can do with £4.5m ?  too much for the car lobby ... but no funding problem for riding in a circle apparently. 

Avatar
Chris James | 8 years ago
0 likes

There is already a planning permission application, awaiting decision in February, to build a similar length regional standard track in Wakefield. The funding has been agreed between British Cycling and Thomas a Becket's school but a number of local residents have objections, largely due to concerns about car parking.

As part of the planning application the council are inviting comments until Feb 4th, so if there are any Yorkshire area riders interested in using this track, and who would like to express their support to try to get this facility built then please do by accessing the link below.

https://planning.wakefield.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails...

Unless Leeds council are a lot faster at making planning decisions than Wakefield then it seems very optimistic to hope to start work in March if the university hasn't even submitted a planning application yet.

 

 

Latest Comments