Race against time to fund new pump track

Ellesmere Town Council needs to raise about £7,000 by Monday

A council says it is determined to reach its fundraising goal to build a brand new pump track for the community.

Ellesmere Town Council is hoping to meet the £70,000 total by Monday to create the track on the authority's recreation ground at Berwyn View.

More than £62,000 has already been raised, including a £10,000 donation from the town's League of Friends charity shop.

"It's something that the local children have been asking for, for quite a while," said town clerk, Jo Butterworth, who stressed the last leg of the fundraising was against the clock.

"Shropshire Council have put in £20,000, the town council have put in £20,000, however if we don't raise the money by [31 March], Shropshire Council will remove their pledge... which is why we're trying to smash this target and raise the last £7,000 by Monday," she said.

Pump tracks are circular loops with rollers and berms, and are designed to be ridden without pedalling, with the set-up proposed for Ellesmere 240m long, and 1.5m wide.

"The beauty of a pump track is you don't just have to use it for bikes, you can use skateboards on there, scooters, even wheelchairs can use it - so it's fully accessible," Ms Butterworth said.

"It'd be fantastic to be able to provide it for the community."

The town council said the provision would promote health, safety and community engagement, as well as being low maintenance in comparison to other recreational equipment.

"We've had such fantastic support," Ms Butterworth added.

"The donations are coming in thick and fast, they're coming in large, small, it's been amazing to see how much support the community are giving this project.

"We'll do it."