Bike track's revamp thanks to BMX club donation
Preston Pirates BMX Club which uses the track have more than 100 members
- Published
A bike track is to get a new lease of life after a BMX club rode to the rescue to help keep it in operation.
The BMX course at Fishwick Recreation Ground in Preston, Lancashire, is in need of essential repair work in order to remain open.
Preston City Council has agreed to accept a £30,000 donation which will be used to replace two of the large banked turns – or berms, as they officially known – nearing the end of their life.
The money comes from the Preston Pirates BMX Club, which operates the London Road facility, and will be added to more than £18,500 allocated by the local authority from its share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
The track opened 18 years ago and underwent a major refurbishment in 2013 when it received a grant from Sports England to fund a lengthening of the course, along with the installation of floodlighting and better drainage.
A city council report detailing the funding arrangement for the works revealed the berms had recently required "regular short-term fixes", which had been delivered by the Pirates.
However, it warned they would "eventually become too dangerous to use" and said replacement was necessary so the club and members of the public could continue using the track.
The project will be managed by the authority’s parks service.
The UKSPF is a government cash pot intended to compensate local areas for the loss of EU regional funding.
Preston City Council has so far been handed £5.5m to support a range of projects.
The Pirates, which has more than 100 members, was the second-largest team at last year’s British BMX Championships, with 28 of the 70 riders representing them making the finals and two being crowned British Champion for their age category.
A statement on its website said: "Whilst the club celebrates individual success, it ensures riders give back to the community through our talent development programmes."
The BBC has approached Preston Pirates for comment.
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