New Pump Track

Pump Track Ready to Roll in Kidsgrove

Astate-of-the-art pump track in Kidsgrove hailed the best in the country has been officially opened.

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council formally unveiled the facility, which is based at Newchapel recreation ground, recently following the completion of construction work by internationally renowned track builders, Clark & Kent Contractors from Ashley.

Aspokesman for the council said: “The large pump track, suitable forall ages and abilities, features anumber of elevated starting platforms and ahost of jumps and obstacles–supplemented by directional arrows –including berms, rollers, angled rollers, table tops, doubles,ashark fin and aleft-handed hip jump. “The design, developed in consultation with residents, maximises momentumwithminimal pedalling using wheeled equipment such as BMX bikes, rollerblades, scooters, skateboards and wheelchairs.”

Asmall group of pupils from surrounding schools accepted invitations to go along with their bikes and helmets to test the track at the official launch event, and also watchdemonstrations by Kyle Evans –a two-time Olympian and European BMX champion from Manchester –and amateur rollerblader Kirsty Meakin from Kidsgrove.

The council is financing the projectusing £100,000 of the £750,000 advanced Town Deal funding it has received from theGovernment to improve residents’ health and well-being in the town. The pump track also includes new seating, bins and free, off-road car parking. Councillor Jill Waring, Cabinet member for leisure, cultureand heritage at the council, said: “One of thecouncil’s priorities is to create a healthy and active borough by ensuring residents and visitors have access to awide range of facilities and activities to helpimprove their health and quality of life. I’m absolutely over the moon that we are able to officially open this fantastic pump track in Kidsgrove in the height of summer. This is hugely positive news for everyone. “We’ve waited avery long time for something like this and Iknow that young people have sometimes, and understandably, struggledto contain their excitement. This once in alifetime opportunity has allowed us to replace thevery old and informal ramps with something extremely special indeed that will provide visitors with something fun, healthy, challenging and free to enjoy for years to come.”

Cllr Waring added: “We want to encourage youngsters in particular to leave theirPlayStations or Xboxes behind and get out of the house to exercise and socialise in the fresh air. The mental health benefits are just as important as the physical ones. “The contractor has done an amazing job as predicted –Ihope people show their appreciation for this major investment by respecting the facility, behaving responsibly and using the bins provided at all times.”

Kyle Evans, who works for Clark &Kent Contractors, qualified as aBMX reserve athlete for the London 2012 Olympic Games and competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He raced into the record books in 2018, leading an historic European Championship one-two for Great Britain in Glasgow.

The 27-year-old added: “It’s beenfantastic to build atrack like this on our own doorstep. We’ve put our heart and soul into it. It’s as suitable for a complete novice as it is to intermediate and expert riders. The young people are so hyped –we’ve already seensuchtalent and Iguarantee that within the next 10 years we’ll have riders coming out of Kidsgrove and Newcastle making something of themselves.”

The remaining advanced Town Deal funding is set to be spent on the early worksassociated with the refurbishment of Kidsgrove Sports Centre; filling agap in match funding to guarantee the delivery of modern leisure facilities forthe King’s School and the community; and aseries of upgrades at Clough Hall Park. The council has since received an additional £16.9 million for major projects to make Kidsgrove “a more desirable place to work, live, visit and invest.”