BMX champion backs plans for track in home village

Three-time world champion Beth Shriever is from Finchingfield in Essex

An Olympic BMX champion said plans for a new cycling track in her home village were "great", despite opposition from some people living locally.

Team GB athlete Beth Shriever insisted building the facilities in Finchingfield, Essex, would encourage more young people to enjoy sport.

But some residents living in the village, also home to celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, feared the track would encourage anti-social behaviour.

Blueprints approved by Braintree District Council showed a beginner track for children, football pitches and 20 parking spaces would also be built.

It was hoped the facilities, off Bardfield Road, would lead to the creation of a BMX club and inspire a new Olympian.

Many people visit Finchingfield due to its reputation as a chocolate box village

Shriever, who triumphed in the 2025 BMX World Championships in August and represented Team GB at the 2024 Olympics, said the track was "only going to bring good publicity" to the area.

"The community around BMX is better than what people think," she told BBC Essex, adding riders "all look out for each other".

"If I had something like that when I was younger I'd be there all the time.

"It's only going to be positive, I think it'll be great."

Thirteen letters of objection were sent to the local authority about the plans, which were submitted by Finchingfield Parish Council.

They outlined concerns about anti-social behaviour, drug use and noise arising from the site.

'Not safe'

Roy Cox, from the Finchingfield Society, said the track was a "wonderful idea" but argued it was not appropriate for the village.

"How do the youngsters get here to this village?," he said.

"If they cycle it means they have to come along country lanes and that is not a safe thing to do."

Approving the plans, a planning officer from Braintree District Council said the proposal would not generate "significant levels of noise".

"The BMX track will be a legacy track in order to create a BMX club to support and feed into the Olympic BMX program," they added.