Plans for permanent cycle racing circuit in Doncaster

There are plans to construct a permanent 1km racing circuit in Doncaster. The South Yorkshire Times reports that Doncaster Council has earmarked land next to the Dome’s car park and plans to apply to British Cycling for funding via the UCI road racing world championships legacy fund.

Doncaster hosted a stage finish in the 2016 Tour de Yorkshire and the council wants to build on this with a new circuit which would be managed by Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust (DCLT).

They say it could act as a home for local clubs and also provide a safe, traffic-free environment for children and adults to learn to ride.

Doncaster Council’s cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism, Bill Mordue, said: “We are passionate about improving the facilities available for sport and recreation across Doncaster, including cycling which has massively grown in popularity over the last few years.

“We will push for the funding for this fantastic new circuit, and have already expressed our interest in submitting a bid to British Cycling as part of the UCI road racing world championships legacy fund, which will support cycling infrastructure projects across the country. Our partners and DCLT are fully behind the project and are helping us in our efforts to secure funding for the circuit.”

Martin Maltby, president of Doncaster Wheelers, expressed enthusiasm for the plans. “It would be a massive improvement for the coaching sessions we run, and the potential to grow cycling in Doncaster as both a sport and a leisure activity would be great.

“We run Go Cycling sessions in Doncaster at the moment for children, and at the moment we have to do that in a car park. That’s better than nothing but it’s not ideal. This would allow us to use a cycle track.”

Maltby also hopes that the track will be floodlit. “We can only do the Go Ride sessions after school during the lighter evenings at present. With floodlights and a circuit, we would be able to do that all year round.”

ITV reports that work recently began on a closed road circuit in Hull. Upon completion, the 1km track, on land adjacent to Ennerdale Leisure Centre, will be the only one of its kind in East Yorkshire. It is due to be completed by August.