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Kent's Cyclopark on target to be completed by March next year

Facility expected to attract 100,000 cyclists annually once it opens next year

Kent County Council has said that the Cyclopark currently being built alongside the A2 near Gravesend, which is expected to attract up to 100,000 cyclists annually, is on schedule to be completed next March.

The county council's cabinet member for environment, highways and waste, Bryan Sweetland told the Kent Messenger: “Work started on the site in January and we are extremely pleased with the progress to date.

“You can see the shape of the 2.9km cycle circuit and the fantastic layout for BMX and mountain bike tracks.

“Further construction works will include the pavilion, a playground and a multi sports area set within a parkland landscape.

“When it opens next year ahead of the Olympics, Cyclopark will be a real asset for local cyclists and many from outside the county as well, helping bring in visitors and money to the area,” he added

To date, £8 million in funding has been provided for the project, including money from British Cycling.

The facility has already received high-profile backing from British stars including Olympic gold medalist Jamie Staff, now in charge of USA Cycling’s track sprinting programme, who previously said that the site would be an ideal location for a cycling academy he was planning to open.
 

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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teamrocket13 | 13 years ago
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I only live round the corner, so looking forward to these facilities. Ebbfleet United are'nt as they kicked up a stink saying no-one in the area wants a bike track and would rather see them have a new stadium. Guess they were wrong  4

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OldRidgeback | 13 years ago
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The rail link info is on the website:

Gravesend railway station, Meopham railway station, Ebbsfleet International railway station and Northfleet railway station are all within 5 km of the site. Gravesend, Meopham, Northfleet and Ebbsflleet International Stations are all within 5 km of the site.

Note that when people attend BMX races in the South region, most arrive by car. BMX is very popular in Kent and Essex, so the site is well placed. It's not that far from either the Dagenham track or the Herne Bay one. The Cyclopark track's only 340m long though.

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A V Lowe | 13 years ago
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The popular Unit 23 in Dumbarton attracts many young cyclists as to similar well rated facilities in Corby and Farnborough - and those of us who use the local rail services cannot help but notice how popular the trains (and sometimes coach services) are with the key audience who those promoting accessible cycling might have noticed, are not permitted to drive a car. Thus promoting a BMX park with good connectivity to the A2 (& M2) nisses the point for a huge potential audience. Links to Meopham/Sole Street and Gravesend are perhaps more important.

Far better to be well sited for a frequent rail service that works late into the night and at weekends - rather like Dumbarton East - just 2 minutes bike ride from Unit 23.

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