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September 2016
To paraphrase an old saying 'a month is a long time in Parish Council affairs.' Last month we were reporting the appeal by one councillor for some action to be taken to protect the investment in a popular recreational facility. At this month's Parish Council meeting he had the backing of members to move forward on essential repairs to the Groby BMX track.
His concern was that without this work the winter would take it's toll on the condition of the BMX, resulting ultimately in an even bigger bill at best or closure of the track. Members approved the expenditure of around £2500, a sum which the installers believe will enable them to restore the track to its original condition. It isn't the end of the story but will buy time for consideration to be given to the drainage problems around the track. It will also enable the council to review whether it should be resurfaced at a cost of £14000 to make it multi purpose and capable of being used by skateboarders and scooters. These two groups are believed to be the source of damage to a surface that was designed for cycle wheels.
Whether to make the multi purpose investment may be a difficult decision for councillors as there are compelling arguments for both sides. On the one hand the investment may eliminate the costs of repairing damage to the surface. On the other is the argument that there are already more suitable alternatives nearby for non-BMX activities and making the track multi purpose may lead to an increased accident risk or even conflict between users who attend at the same time.
Some members are very disappointed that the original vision of a track managed by a club that could apply for grant funding for improvements such as a starting gate and lights has never been realised. Other villages have successfully established such user groups that enable the formation of teams to enter regional and national competitions and provide safety advice and training.
Can you help form a club?
During the winter months we are likely to see another attempt to create a club, with Groby Community Library taking a role in helping to publicise the proposals and providing accommodation for meetings to take place. The Parish Council has set aside some money that the Library Trust can call on to meet any expenses in producing promotional material, so the cost won't come out of the fund raising that the Trust does for its library services.
Anyone who is interested in helping in any way with this new BMX project should get in touch with the Parish Council.
August 2016
The latest Parish Council debate
They say that what goes around comes around. In this case this doesn't refer to the BMX cyclists but the Parish Council discussions about what is to be done with the track. It's been discussed before and at the August meeting was discussed again. But on this occasion there was straight talking from one of the new members of the Council suggesting that it is time to stop talking and do something.
The track has been embroiled in controversy since it was opened in May 2011, mainly because there has been little response to appeals for community involvement.
In October 2009 local BMX enthusiast Jamie West gave a presentation to Groby Parish Council. The Council agreed to undertake a tender exercise for quotes for the design and build of a BMX track and £1,000 was set aside to enable the creation of a BMX Club membership scheme and associated administration costs.
Twelve months later the project had virtually ground to a halt. The Council wanted to provide a high quality track at an estimated cost of £45,000, but fencing and low level lighting added another £29,000. The proposed BMX club would have to be apply for external top up grant funding, with no guarantee of success. There was little enthusiasm locally for this arrangement and at a meeting held in October 2010 it soon became clear that the preferred option was to fund a more modest track. Within a month the scheme had been revised by dropping the provision of lighting, the starting gate and the fencing.
Jamie West, who had played a key role in delivering the BMX proposals,was delighted. “The approved scheme has not compromised the quality of the track being proposed and will provide an excellent facility for today's young (and old) of Groby as well as for future generations,” he said at the time. “We hope that a club can be formed as soon as possible so we can start to deliver a structured training to those who want it and provide a safe environment for those who just wish to ride on a casual basis. We expect that once built the track will be a great success and the envy of surrounding villages.” Less than six months later the track was open.
Concerns about community involvement
Twelve months after Groby's BMX track was opened questions were raised about the extent of community involvement, the cost of maintenance and remedial works, and an alleged decline in the number of users using the facility. Groby Parish Council arranged a meeting in April 2012 to discuss the BMX track and the way forward.
The lack of turnout for the meeting disappointed council members as only 3 members of the public with an interest in the track attended. In addition they heard that within the previous 24 hours there had been vandalism at the track.
Attempts to form a club before the track was built were unsuccessful, but it was believed this would become much easier when the track was opened. This was not the case and further efforts were equally unrewarding. The community involvement which had been apparent in some other parishes has not materialised in Groby and the problem that had to be faced was that it was never the intention that the Parish Council run the track.
Although young people were thought to be the prime users of the BMX track this is a facility for the whole community. Surprisingly it seems that there has been little interest from schools, church or community youth groups, clubs or employers asking if they can organise events or competitions at the BMX site. No mums or dads have formed a group and asked if they can organise girls only sessions for those who may be reticent about riding with the boys.
The summer of 2013 saw a turnaround in use and young people made the most of the track during the dry weather. “It's spot on,” said one dad who was at the track with his son. “Whoever conceived and executed it needs to be thanked. “I had to coax my son on to the track initially as he was a little nervous, but now he really enjoys it.”
By October 2015 Parish Councillors were still pleased with the success of the track but had some concerns as the area around it can get somewhat waterlogged and probably needed some drainage work. The track itself was also thought to be in need of maintenance and the Council planned an inspection by the suppliers before the 2016 season to see what needed to be done.
After 5 years the track is deteriorating. Although designed for BMX use parents have allowed children to use skateboards and scooters on it and this has accelerated surface damage. This is not just a problem for Groby and the installers have found they need to to offer a tougher, but expensive, surface coating which can cope with non-BMX use.
Time to act?
At the August 2016 Parish Council meeting a member expressed the view that the condition of the track when it was discussed last October was such that it needed some attention before the risk of winter weather caused further damage. He added that the BMX issue was one which seemed to keep getting deferred without any resolution, and he wouldn't like to see the track go into next winter without some remedial work. He added that the Parish Council had provided a good resource but is not looking after it, something which he thought couldn't be left to 'Joe Public'.
He thought it wasn't adequate to discuss it from month to month then do nothing, and advocated that at least some essential maintenance should take place to protect it through the winter months. He described the option of just bulldozing it as 'sacrilege'. It was said that only around £2000 had been spent on maintenance since it was opened 5 years ago. Another member said that a further sum had been set aside for essential maintenance before last winter but hadn't been spent.
In response to the argument that something needs to be done urgently the familiar issues concerning the lack of community involvement and allegations of anti-social behaviour and vandalism were given another airing. No statistics are collated about the use of parish Council facilities and car parks but one observation about the BMX track was that this year there seemed to be few users during the first few weeks of the school holidays.
The member who raised the issues about the lack of action agreed to get more involved and investigate the comparative costs of short term and more permanent remedial work. After 5 years it may be time for the Council to come to terms with the lack of community involvement and reluctantly decide whether or not the original plan has any chance of working. If an acceptable alternative strategy is needed but cannot be found they will then have to face a difficult decision.
If you have ideas about how the community can be more involved, then the Parish Clerk would be pleased to hear from you.
February 2016
The Parish Council is considering what essential maintenance is needed at the Groby BMX track. The signs of wear and tear are showing and some remedial work is required. The track is a good recreational facility but the recurring question is how it could be made even better with increased community involvement.
Attempts to establish a club have failed in the past despite the availability of Parish Council financial assistance to get one started. The housing development at the site of the Brant Inn is providing a further opportunity to enhance the BMX experience in the village, as the developer will be required to provide funds which could go towards improvements (but not routine maintenance) of the park facilities.
If you have ideas about how the BMX track could be improved with a cash injection. and how the community can be more involved, then the Parish Clerk would be pleased to hear from you. The idea of a club that could motivate young people to get involved and could organise training, events and competitions isn't dead yet. But if grant cash which could be used on other projects is to be pumped in there will be an expectation that at last the community will recognise the value of this asset and the benefit it brings for the young people of Groby in particular.
It's now four years since the BMX track opened and the facility is still being enjoyed by riders. Whilst Parish Councillors are pleased with the success of the track there are still some concerns. The area around it can get somewhat waterlogged and probably needs some drainage work. The track itself is also thought to be in need of maintenance and the Council is planning an inspection by the suppliers before the 2016 season to see what needs to be done. The shelter at the track is attracting some anti-social behaviour once again and climbing onto the roof continues to be an attractive alternative to cycling. A new coating of anti-vandal paint is planned as a discouragement to climbing the shelter.
The other concern is that despite a number of efforts over the life of the track to encourage the creation of a BMX Club for the benefit of the users there appears to be no enthusiasm within the community to get involved. Councillors feel that a club would demonstrate community ownership, and with a sum set aside to get one started it would then be possible for a club to apply for grants for improvements and organise activities such as BMX events and training.
If you can help in the formation of a club the Clerk to the Parish Council would like to hear from you. Ring 0116 287 6985 and ask for Ben or call in at the Parish Office at the Village Hall.
October 2013
It's now two years since the BMX track was opened at Marina Park and since then it's fortunes have been up and down just like the track itself. There was initial elation in the spring of 2011 when there were record numbers of users and concerns that cyclists were even coming from outside the area to use it. But the use dropped off and there were tales of anti social behaviour by a minority and even vandalism aimed at damaging the facility. Efforts to establish a BMX club were unsuccessful.
The summer of 2013 has seen a turnaround and young people have been making the most of the track during the dry weather. “It's spot on,” said dad Dave who was at the track with his son. “Whoever conceived and executed it needs to be thanked.” That's a compliment for local rider Jamie West who was instrumental in persuading the Parish Council to provide a track and the Council for scaling back the original more expensive scheme. “If there's one other facility I would have liked it would have been an additional small semi-circle where the youngest or least confident riders could build up confidence,” he added. “I had to coax my son on to the track initially as he was a little nervous, but now he really enjoys it.” As the lad made his way back to the track Dave reminded him to put his helmet on, good advice for users of all ages.
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June 2012
This site is dedicated to BMX in Groby but will interest anyone who enjoys taking part in the sport or just enjoys great videos of exciting and challenging riding. The Home Page has the latest news, and as the Spotlight went to the printers the big news was that on Sunday 20th May between 10am-12.00pm a film shoot was planned at the Groby track for a short sequence for the UCI BMX Worlds champs being held at Birmingham the following weekend. It was a very short piece with the back drop of the track and a group of riders in club and national shirts shouting out “cycling is our passion”. This should appear at the beginning of all video shot at the Worlds.
There are links from the Home Page to pages that feature the Groby BMX Club along with its rules and constitution. As you'd expect there's a presence on Facebook and so there's also an important link from the Club Page to the Groby BMX Facebook page.
The page dedicated to track records shows the fastest recorded lap for each age group, which is time at one full lap of the track from the crest of the start hill through to the finish line (front wheel crossing the start of the tarmac loop berm). Jamie, in the 35-39 men's group is currently the fastest at 27.5 seconds but not far behind in the Age 9 Boys Group is Elliot just 3.7 seconds slower. (All timed track laps must be verified by club official.)
Local BMX videos can be seen on the Media page and the Find Us page has the obligatory Google map to help those unfamiliar with the location of the track. The info pages are packed with information about the history of the sport, safety issues and an explanation of what it's all about. The info pages are essential reading for anyone wanting to have a go at BMX and for parents who want guidance on what to buy for their children and what safety gear they need. They give a flavour of the help and support that can be available to users who sign up and help create a thriving club to promote the sport locally. This professional looking site is also outward looking with a host of links to other BMX websites both within Leicestershire and nationally. With the warm summer days surely just around the corner the site and Facebook page are the places to hear about club membership and the club nights that are being planned.
BMX history
The site explains that BMX started in the USA in the early 1970s when children began racing their bicycles on dirt tracks in southern California, drawing inspiration from the motocross superstars of the time on bikes the barely now resemble modern days BMXs. It wasn’t until the late 1970’s that BMX racing began to appear in the UK. The site charts the rise in the popularity of the sport during the 80's and the relative decline in the 90's with the growth of other cycling variations including mountain biking.
But in 2008 BMX racing was granted Olympic status and included in the Beijing games schedule for the very first time. The inclusion of BMX into the Olympic schedule reignited interest in the sport in a way not seen since the early 1980’s. The riders from ‘back in the day’ are now parents and are introducing their children to the sport, with some even getting back on the track themselves.
GrobyBMX believes that 2012 is looking very good for BMX racing in the UK. The ‘Worlds’ was held in Birmingham in May with the Olympic Games being held in London in a couple of months. With these major events there has been large investments in facilities throughout the UK with several major BMX track schemes pencilled in throughout the UK with the backing of both local authorities and British Cycling (UK cycling governing body).
And Groby is well placed to participate in this renewed interest with it's new track, despite the difficulties that have been experienced during the first 12 months. Responding to the concerns that have been reported in the Spotlight Jamie West, the driving force behind the creation of the track, said at the Annual Parish Meeting that the track does not require £13,000 remedial works as previously thought.
“The banks don't need stabilising because they are made of solid stone, the proposed plastic matting isn't compatible with bikes because they slip, and improved drainage isn't that feasible as the whole of the park saturates,” he explained. “The track has not required any maintenance by the councils since it was built. All repairs have been organised by myself and the vandalism was repaired professionally at no cost by the original contractors. The council did have grass seeding done but it didn't take again due to no water, which is the extent of any expenditure over and above the build cost to date.” He was optimistic about the use of the track in the coming months, adding that the track use did drop off over the winter but bikes are back out and on any evening when its not raining the track is very well used by locals.
May 2012
With two big national and international events to focus on, the future of the BMX track in Groby may seem relatively unimportant. But if the project fails after just 12 months it could have implications which reach far beyond what some may consider to be just a few lads on their bikes. Failure could help determine the attitude of future parish councils asked to spend large sums of money on providing facilities in the village. It could even influence the proposal to spend a much larger amount on providing a community recreational centre.
Last month questions were raised about the extent of community involvement in the BMX project, the cost of maintenance and remedial works, and an alleged decline in the number of users using the facility. The original project which considered fencing, lighting and features such as a starting gate was downscaled as it was envisaged that users would form a club with initial financial help from the Parish Council and this would lead to mentoring and tuition for users as well as fund raising for improvements. This has not happened.
Initially the project suffered teething problems. The dry spring when the track was laid out affected the growth of grass on the supporting side banks and a year on this has resulted in the need for more maintenance, as has an element of misuse by youngsters with scooters and not BMX cycles, and the need to improve the drainage at the site. The Council has been given a quote for £13,000 for strengthening the grass sides of the track with mesh and re-seeding, provision of 2 french drains to aid drainage, and also for the provision of grass matting at the start of the track running down to the youth shelter. Subsequent quotes may improve on this price but as reported last month such unexpected expenditure will still be more than the amount set aside for maintenance.
Poorly attended meeting
Faced with the dilemma of declining use, increasing costs and no club or formal management team for the track Groby Parish Council arranged a meeting at the Council Chamber on 25th April to discuss with any interested parties who wished to attend the way forward in maintaining and promoting the track for the community. The 10 council members present were disappointed by the lack of turnout for the meeting and shocked by the news that within the previous 24 hours there had been vandalism at the track. Only 3 members of the public with an interest in the track attended. Admittedly it was an early meeting, at 6.30pm on a wet night, but no members of the public had contacted the parish council to say they could not attend because this was an inconvenient time.
There was little new to be said as there was general agreement that the project was highly appreciated when it opened, and that some damage had been caused by the use of scooters on the track. Whilst it was accepted that the number of users had fallen off, and it is at times empty, it was argued that both individuals and families were still enjoying the facility. It was also agreed that without a lockable enclosure for the track the construction of the shelter had been a mistake. From the start it had encouraged unwelcome behaviour with youths climbing on it until it was coated with anti-vandal paint. Subsequently it appears to have become somewhere for those not interested in BMX to sit and drink. The shelter is to be removed and efforts are to be made to find out why some youngsters have stopped visiting the site.
Attempts to form a club before the track was built were unsuccessful, but it was believed this would become much easier when the track was opened. This has not been the case and the meeting was told that efforts to form a club last summer were equally unrewarding. The community involvement which has been apparent in some other parishes has not materialised in Groby and the problem that has to be faced is that it was never the intention that the track is run by the Parish Council.
The Council is a facilitator, not a manager. It runs Groby Cemetery but depends on community involvement for other activities. It leases land and buildings to the Scouts for their youth enterprise activities and it provides pitches for the local football teams. To discharge the council's statutory obligation to provide allotments it leases land to Groby Allotment Society. All these activities are run by formal organisations with their own fund raising and management teams. And this is what was envisaged for the BMX track – a vibrant club and user base raising money for maintenance, improvements and training.
Future projects
If the project fails through lack of community support any future initiatives involving large sums will come under increased scrutiny within the Council. Parish Council plans for a new community facility require a massive investment and grant aid, and members may have been disappointed by the lack of response from potential stakeholders to it's public meeting earlier this year. The meeting was attended mainly by those who live in the Forest Rise area who were concerned about the potential increase in traffic if the facility were to be sited at Quarry Park. The working party has recommended the preparation of a business plan as part of the development of proposals for the recreational centre, and based on the experience with the BMX track this would appear to be a critical part of the planning process.
Without additional community participation in the management of the facility concerns have been raised about any more expenditure other than that which is essential to ensure the safety of users. With such a large capital project the council wants the BMX track to survive but without a management team and fund raising they have the prospect of it turning into a money pit. Whilst the council appears to be prepared to support the project in the short term the view has been expressed that to ensure it's long term success consideration needs to be given to reviving the original concept of using fencing and a gate to create a BMX enclosure. This would allow the shelter to be reinstated and would reduce the risk of misuse and vandalism.
Although young people are thought to be the prime users of the BMX track this is a facility for the whole community and there are no upper age restrictions on the use of the track. Surprisingly it seems that in the first 12 months no schools, church or community youth groups, clubs or employers have come forward and asked if they can organise events or competitions at the BMX site. No mums or dads have formed a group and asked if they can organise girls only sessions for those who may be reticent about riding with the boys. There are family groups to be seen at the BMX, and some time soon mums and dads could be asked by their children why the track has been flattened. If 2012 is not to be the year the bulldozers go in more residents need to step forward and help fulfil the dream of those who worked so hard for the construction of the track.
If you believe that this is a facility that is worth saving and can lend support you should contact the Clerk of the Parish Council without delay. Later may turn out to be too late. May 2012
The future of BMX in Groby may be under scrutiny but worldwide it seems to be going from strength to strength. BMX Cycling, the most recent discipline to have been added to the Olympic programme, made its debut at the Beijing 2008 Games. Latvia and France won the first Olympic BMX gold medals. Up to 6,000 spectators will be able to watch the 48 competitors at the London 2012 BMX competition. It will be held at a specially constructed track next to the Velodrome in the Olympic Park, with the riders starting on an 8m-high ramp. After seeding rounds riders will compete in heats on the jumps, bumps and tightly banked corners, hopefully working their way through to the finals. When the Games are over, the BMX Track will be open to the general public. The BMX event will take place on Wednesday 8 – Friday 10 August. If you would like to see the thrills and spills of BMX racing at the Beijing 2008 Games visit http://www.olympic.org/cycling-bmx
Groby Parish Council has arranged a meeting at the Council Chamber on Wednesday 25th April 2012 at 6.30 pm to discuss the BMX track. Interested parties in the BMX track can attend to discuss the way forward in maintaining and promoting the track for the community.
Twelve months after Groby's BMX track was opened questions have been raised about the extent of community involvement in the project, the cost of maintenance and remedial works, and an alleged decline in the number of users using the facility. The original project which considered fencing, lighting and features such as a starting gate was downscaled to something which was more easily delivered with the cash available. It was envisaged that users would form a club with initial financial help from the Parish Council and this would lead to mentoring and tuition for users in the skills needed to for BMX cycling but this has not happened. The experience in other parishes has been that once the facility is there use increases and in some areas competitive teams have been formed and fund raising started for improvements.
Initially the project suffered teething problems and more recently a drop in the number of users has been reported to the Parish Council, although this may turn out to be a purely seasonal issue which will change again with warmer days and lighter nights. The dry spring when the track was laid out affected the growth of grass on the supporting side banks and a year on this has resulted in the need for more maintenance, as has an element of misuse by youngsters with scooters and not BMX cycles, and the need to improve the drainage at the site. The Council has been given a quote for £13,000 for strengthening the grass sides of the track with mesh and re-seeding, provision of 2 french drains to aid drainage, and also for the provision of grass matting at the start of the track running down to the youth shelter. Subsequent quotes may improve on this price but such unexpected expenditure will still be more than the amount set aside for maintenance. April 2012
BMX volunteers needed
February 2012 As the anniversary of the opening of the BMX track approaches it continues to be well used, though the Parish Council has been told there are signs of misuse. Visitors may have noticed that sometimes the cyclists are supplemented by youngsters with scooters. Jamie West who helped with the construction of the track said "scooters were one of the most popular gifts this Christmas but unfortunately they do wear the track out very fast due to their hard wheels which the track just isn’t designed for”. He also added “ Whilst I think the current trend for scooters is great, it would be appreciated if parents could remind children that using the scooters on the track does damage it and ruins the enjoyment of the BMX users”.
The volunteer management team is only three strong and would like the support of the wider community. Jamie continues “We are looking to refresh the track as soon as the weather improves ready for the spring, which should only take a morning. Any volunteers who could lend a hand and the use of a compacting plate would be greatly appreciated to get the track back up to scratch ready for the spring"
May 2011.
On Monday 5th October 2009 local BMX enthusiast Jamie West gave a presentation about BMX cycling to Groby Parish Council. Jamie, a father of three who has lived in Groby for 25 years, has been a BMX fan for years. Following his presentation the Council agreed to undertake a tender exercise for three quotes for the design and build of a BMX track along the lines as seen in the presentation and to obtain three quotes for the resurfacing of the car park and associated works. Members also agreed to set aside £1,000 to enable the creation of a BMX Club membership scheme and to cover the associated administration costs.
The wheels stop turning
Twelve months later the project had virtually ground to a halt. The Council had wanted to provide a high quality track at an estimated cost of £45,000, but fencing and low level lighting added another £29,000. In order to deliver this scheme external top up grant funding was needed which would have to be applied for by the proposed BMX club, with no guarantee of success. There was little enthusiasm locally for this arrangement and at a meeting held at the Village Hall on October 28th to discuss all options it soon became clear that the preferred option was to use the available funds to provide a more modest track. The alternative of more delays and the uncertainties which applying for grants would bring found little support.
Revised proposal approved
By the Parish Council meeting on November 1st the scheme had been revised by dropping the provision of lighting, the starting gate and the fencing, and that this brought the estimated cost within the cash set aside by the Council. Jamie West, who had played a key role in delivering the BMX proposals,was delighted.
“The approved scheme has not compromised the quality of the track being proposed and will provide an excellent facility for today's young (and old) of Groby as well as for future generations,” he said at the time. “We hope that a club can be formed as soon as possible so we can start to deliver a structured training to those who want it and provide a safe environment for those who just wish to ride on a casual basis. We expect that once built the track will be a great success and the envy of surrounding villages.”
Less than six months later the track is open, with the contractors handing over the site in time for Easter and one older rider enjoying the ride at 5.30am. There is more work to carry out with car park re-surfacing taking place provisionally on 17th May, followed by the line painters shortly after completion, then the shelter installation and signs. The work is likely to be completed by early June.
Track delights users
Jamie West is thrilled by the public response following the opening of the track. “It has been a resounding success,” he said, “and at one point on the opening weekend it was observed that there were in excess of 50 riders using the track at anyone time along with a similar number of people/families spectating from the bank. Hopefully we will be able to form a club very soon with a view to offering coaching for beginners through to the more experienced riders and anyone interested should visit www.grobybmx.co.uk for the latest news.”
Last Saturday afternoon there were more than a dozen young cyclists on the track all having fun and co-operating in a trouble free atmosphere, clearly demonstrated when one lad took a tumble. The boy behind him immediately dismounted and flagged down the approaching riders to prevent a collision.
The early opening of the track brought some teething problems, as might be expected. The grass seed planted has failed to germinate because it has been so dry and the unseasonally warm spring has highlighted another issue. BMX riding can be a high energy activity, so it has been very important for the well being of riders that they stay hydrated and take water or soft drinks with them. When riding these may be left alongside the track and could be wrongly mistaken for litter.
With so many youngsters in one place there may inevitably be some empty bottles and cans as well and one of the issues identified by the early opening has been the need for more litter bins. The Parish Council has ordered two concrete bins and when delivered these will be emptied twice a week. There will be an additional bin for the shelter when it is installed.
In the meantime the cyclists have taken ownership of the problem and the Parish Clerk says that local BMX enthusiasts have placed a plastic dustbin there. In addition the users are carrying out a daily litter sweep to keep the site safe and tidy. Jamie West drew attention to an unexpected consequence of the opening of the track. “By all accounts,” he said, “the litter dropping around others parts of Groby has drastically improved since the track opened, particularly the spinney area!”
Background stories...
Groby BMX nearly here
April 2011 The wait is nearly over for local BMX riders. Following the decision at the end of last year to proceed with a revised scheme, which didn't involve the further delays that the formation of a club and new grant applicatons entailed, the project to provide the track and improve the parking has quickly moved to realisation. The weather forecast may be for a wet June but that is hardly likely to dampen down the excitement of the opening of the new BMX facility.
The Parish Council is hoping that work will be commencing on the track as this edition of the Spotlight is being printed. The work should take about 6-8 weeks to complete. Car park re-surfacing will take place provisionally on 17th May, said Parish Clerk Beverley Greenwood. Shortly after completion the line painters will arrive, then the shelter and signs will be installed. "Completion date, realistically I would suggest is in the first two weeks of June 2011," said Beverley.
November 2010 Following consultation with local BMX enthusiasts Groby Parish Council has scaled back plans for a BMX track on Marina Park. At the November Parish Council meeting approval was given to move ahead with a scheme that will not require external funding and can be achieved within the budget of £40,000 already allocated to the project.
The Council had wanted to provide a high quality track enclosed by a 3 metre high fence and complete with a starting gate and lighting. The cost of the track itself was estimated at £45,000, but fencing and low level lighting added another £29,000. In order to deliver this scheme external grant funding was needed and in order to improve the chances of success another £1000 was set aside to establish a BMX club that could make grant applications. There was little enthusiasm locally, however, for this arrangement and a meeting was held at the Village Hall on October 28th to discuss all options.
At the meeting, attended by both young and older enthusiasts, it soon became clear that the preferred option was to use the available funds to provide a more modest track. The alternative of more delays and the uncertainties which applying for grants would bring found little support.
Same quality track planned
Some of the cyclists attended the Parish Council meeting on November 1st to listen to the debate on the project and contribute during the public participation section. They heard that the scheme had been revised on the basis of dropping the provision of lighting, the starting gate and the fencing, and that this brought the estimated cost within the cash set aside by the Council. There will be no need to downgrade the quality of the track or reduce it's size. Planning permission would still be needed but once the revised scheme is approved and a date set for the contractor to start on site construction would only take around four weeks.
Approval welcomed
Approval of the plan was welcomed by local BMX riders, who believe that once there is a track interest will quickly grow and a club will be formed. “Needless to say I'm absolutely delighted with the decision of the Council last Monday and can only thank those that attended the recent meetings to show support for the scheme which helped it across the line,” said Jamie West who has played a key role in delivering the BMX proposals.
“The approved scheme has not compromised the quality of the track being proposed and will provide an excellent facility for today's young (and old) of Groby as well as for future generations. We hope that a club can be formed as soon as possible so we can start to deliver a structured training to those who want it and provide a safe environment for those who just wish to ride on a casual basis. We expect that once built the track will be a great success and the envy of surrounding villages.”
Jo Brettle-West, another enthusiast also expressed satisfaction with the outcome. “My family are delighted with the news about the forthcoming BMX track,” she said. “My husband used to ride through the eighties. Bmx is now an Olympic sport that has enjoyed a revival over the last decade. We got involved with our children who have rode since the age of 3.”
Travelling out of the village has been the only way to practice the sport for anyone wanting to join a club or use a purpose built track. “We had to travel to Bulwell in Nottingham to be part of a club and regularly travel to Nuneaton and Alvaston in Derby to train,” added Jo. “BMX is a fantastic family sport that's spans both sexes and all ages. We look forward to developing BMX in Groby.”
No further consultation
The original scheme met with no objections from local residents, and whilst no further consultation with is planned by the Council there will be the opportunity for neighbours and others to comment on the revised proposal when the planning application is submitted. It is hoped, however, that the dropping of the requirement for a club, the starting gate, lights and 3 metre high fence will not be an issue for near neighbours of the track. Improvements to the car park are unchanged by the new plans as this has separate funding.
October 2010.
“This is great,” thought Tim as he flew through the air on his BMX. But as he landed his front wheel twisted and he was thrown off the bike. His helmet protected his head as he hit the ground but he was unprepared for the searing pain he experienced as his bladder split on the impact. Accidents happen in all sporting activities and in this case Tim was riding on a BMX track in his village recreational ground. If he had lived in Groby he would probably have been riding on a home made off road track out of sight in a spinney with limited access for the emergency services. Enabling youngsters to experience risk and have fun in as safe an environment as possible is one of the issues that will face those who attend the public meeting on the future of the Groby BMX project on October 28th.
£40,000 set aside for BMX
The Parish Council will probably not be happy to see the project fail as they have set aside £40,000 in the 2010 budget and over the last twelve months have discussed the plan, the design, the planning implications and consulted with residents near the proposed track. They want to provide a facility that the village could be proud of, but this aspiration has brought its own problems. The cost of the track itself was estimated at £45,000. Car park and footpath improvements added £25,000, fencing and low level lighting another £29,000, and a shelter £12,000, with the final figure rising to around £137,000. This made the project unaffordable without grant funding of nearly £100,000. The chances of a successful grant application are improved if the request is made by the stakeholders in the project – the users. So a Groby BMX Club was proposed with a formal constitution and a bank account. The Parish Council stepped in with the promise of £1000 to set all this up.
Projects need a champion
Ambitious projects usually need a champion to act as the driving force and Groby was lucky to have local BMX enthusiast Jamie West on board. A Facebook page with over 100 followers was created along with a professional looking club website. The website has details of the club and the track design as well as videos. Despite the amount of time Jamie committed it seems that there have been difficulties in getting the riders who would use the track to be involved and take ownership of the project and when Jamie had to bow out because of changes at work affecting his availability the scheme was left without a champion.
Councillor's opinions divided
When the project was discussed at October's Parish Council opinions were divided. One Councillor thought that it would help to have more information about the less expensive scheme adopted by another council. A lower cost option would enable the Parish Council to fund BMX without external grant aid by limiting expenditure to the £40,000 it has already earmarked. But this would mean a lowering of aspirations, with the dropping of some or all of the car park improvements, lighting and shelter.
A smaller or more basic track with simple fencing designed to stop toddlers running onto the track would leave the Parish Council with a facility which was capable of future improvement if needed, and money left over. Perhaps a club and fund raising for improvements would follow.
But another Councillor expressed the view that if the young people had not come on board to form the club and take ownership then why should the Council proceed? This would, however, leave the older children enjoying their sport on isolated home made tracks but would deprive younger children of participation with their parents in a safe environment.
On the other hand there was the view that the users will be primarily children and they could not be expected to have the same forward vision and planning capabilities as adults and when youngsters could see something taking shape they would want to get involved. This is the approach taken by some other councils – provide the facility in the same way as other recreational facilities such as play equipment and climbing frames. It may well be a chicken and egg situation – which comes first the track or the club? Villagers will be aware from experience that even adult organisations in the village can have a hard time recruiting volunteers and committee members.
The benefits of the sport
It seems that BMX clubs often grow from small beginnings. In Huncote, for example, the Huncote Hornets Club started with a few boys and girls. They now have 55 members some of whom are taking part in regional and national races and cater for any age group, male or female. Their youngest rider is just three and a half years old. With what has been described as “a fantastic community spirit” behind the Hornets, and growing support from parents looking to get more actively involved, coaching is now available twice a week.
Their website says that their aim is “to encourage more kids of all ages to learn the art of BMX racing and to help them lead a more active and healthy lifestyle. BMX racing can boost kids self esteem and confidence as well as their health.”
Jan Freakley who has worked with the young people said that the riders get a terrific sense of camaraderie and get on with each other very well. “They also get a great sense of self worth, it’s all down to them, in football it’s the 11 players effort, whereas here it’s down to each individual. Win or lose it doesn’t seem to matter, each challenge is individual to them, some do it purely to win, others do it for fitness or just to be out with their friends.”
One parent whose son had Aspergers Syndrome and had been going to the club for 8 weeks also feels the sport has benefits. She said that “since he’s been coming it has done wonders for his self confidence. He feels good about himself because he feels valid, everyone has treated him equally and been amazing with him. It’s really brought him out loads.”
The Parish Council will no doubt be hoping that they see the same “ fantastic community spirit” at the meeting on October 28. But even if volunteers come forward and the project gets back on track there is still the issue of grant funding to overcome. Grants are not so easy to obtain in these days of financial constraint and the only alternative might be a radical rethink about what sort of facility is provided and how much is spent. The public meeting is likely to result in the rebirth of the BMX project or it's termination, and could decide where all those BMX bikes that get bought this Christmas will get used.
You can visit Huncote BMX club at www.huncotehornets.co.uk.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=94045443208 is the link for facebook.
October 2010
The proposed BMX track is too close to neighbouring gardens
April 2010 The BMX track planned for Marina Park is too close to neighbouring gardens it seems. The track needs to be 30 metres from the nearest garden and as a result it has to be repositioned slightly, using the car park as a buffer. The ball court which was to be included may have to dropped from the scheme. Funding for the project isn't as easy to find as it was a few years ago but preparations are still underway and a planning application is being prepared. Jamie West, the local resident who is a key player in the project, now has interest from over 100 people and is working on a Groby BMX website. There has also been a change to the positioning of the proposed community facility at Quarry Park in order to minimise the distance from utility services.
Here's the original BMX story...
BMX track enhancements planned
December 2009 The design of the proposed BMX track is still being tweaked and improved. Consideration is being given to include in the compound an enclosed properly hard surfaced practice court that will include a basketball goal and at lower level a football goal at one end of the court only. This will cover an area that was previously the base for the Council's materials store. It will be joined to the fence of the new BMX track and will only require some additional fencing to enclose the court on 3 sides.
October 2009. Plans to provide a new BMX track on Stamford Memorial Park moved forward this month when the Parish Council gave it's backing in principle to the scheme. The Council agreed to seek three quotes for designing and building the scheme and another three for associated car park and footpath improvements. A proposal for a grant to help the formation of a club to manage the site also received support from members. If everything falls into place the youngsters could be having fun at the track by next April.
It is proposed to replace the old cycle track with a safe and secure area for local youth that is designed by professionals to suit all ages and skill levels. The facility, which would have background safety lighting, would be fully fenced and could be locked overnight. There would be a small sheltered area, the car park would be resurfaced and footpaths improved.
Scheme costs
Although the total cost of the scheme has been estimated at around £137,000 the installation of the track itself is a relatively small part at £45,000. Car park and footpath improvements would account for around £25,000. Fencing and low level lighting would add around £29,000, with a shelter another £12,000. Design and planning could cost £10,000 and a 10% contingency has been built into the final figures.
With the Parish Council on board and approval for quotes to be sought attention can be given to appointing an architect and applying for planning permission. Sources of funding will also need to be identified and a club formed to manage the site. If all goes well the facility could be up and running by next April.
Presentation convinces Council
The Council was given a presentation by 35 year old Jamie West, a father of three who has lived in Groby for 25 years and has been a BMX fan for years. Eighteen months ago his son found an old box which contained some BMX trophies that Jamie won in his younger days.
“Having explained what BMX racing was all about he was very interested so I looked into what BMX tracks their were in Leicester and found that Western Park had turned into a 'trails' track with very big steep jumps for experienced riders only,” said Jamie. “The only active 'race' tracks were in Nottingham and Derby. We had a drive up to Nottingham one evening to find a track which had been their since the early 80's in full swing. There were kids from the age of 5 upwards along with their parents using the track. Needless to say within a few weeks I had bought my son a racing BMX and myself one too! Since then we both race at Nottingham, and next year will be looking to race at National Level.”
Although the proposed track would enable young and older riders to train it won't be suitable for regional race meetings, though a new track going through the planning process at Beaumont Leys will be, and we could see local youngsters aspiring to be part of a competitive Groby team. And who knows what could follow. In 2012 Birmingham will be hosting the world championships and with BMX racing at the London Olympics there will no doubt no doubt be a lot of interest generated in the sport.
Help and support offered
When Jamie heard that the Parish Council were considering a BMX track he quickly offered his help and support. “I didn't want the council to spend good money on something badly designed and built, which quite a lot councils have unfortunately done in the past,” said Jamie. “ I also felt that if I could steer them in the right direction we could have a quality facility that the village could be proud of.” His job involves project management and controlling budgets and this has helped in putting the initial design and proposals for the scheme together.
The users of the track will have to join a Groby BMX club. A constitution has to be drawn up but it's envisaged that the committee will be mainly local young people and their parents along with Parish Council representatives. "One of the benefits of a club would be that it offers the possibility of arranging coaching in technique and perhaps the opportunity for the best riders to train as British Cycling approved coaches," Jamie added.
How can you help the BMX project?
At the moment it is a working party formed by the Parish Council of 5 members including Jamie. They've had input from youngsters and their parents, along with both discussions with the local police and Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, who are fully supportive of the scheme. Jamie has also setup a Facebook group with details of the scheme.
The working party hopes to be in a position to set up a meeting within the next month to present the scheme proposal to the general public. “Ideally the next step is to form the basis of a club, starting with committee members and those who would be generally interested in joining,” Jamie added.
This is an exciting and ambitious project which needs community support to succeed.. If you would like to get involved there are three ways to get in touch. Either contact
the Parish Council at parishclerk@groby.com,
grobybmx@ntlworld.com or
via Facebook group 'Groby BMX'.