BMX track to go – could it return?

Spalding’s BMX track is to be levelled amid calls it be replaced.

The track at the Castle Sports Complex held regional and national competitions after being installed in the 1980s, but it has now been deemed unsafe.
Campaigners are urging South Holland District Council to replace it as part of the redevelopment of the facility through Levelling Up funding.
At the authority’s meeting last week, Coun Rob Gibson asked how the council had reached the decision and what plans were to replace it.
“I don’t think our youngsters have too much in way of recreation in South Holland.”
Leader of the council Nick Worth responded: “We’ve had discussions with PEDALS and representatives of the BMX users and we wouldn’t have taken that decision unless we’ve had that consultation.
“There were safety issues with the current track.
“I think everyone felt at the moment that the safest thing was to level it.
“There’s ongoing discussions with those groups and young people about how we find appropriate funding and what we can add, whether it will be a BMX track or a bike track.
“We’ll keep that dialogue going to see what opportunities there are in the future.”
Stewart Elderkin, now of local cycling campaign group PEDALS, was one of the founder members of the former Spalding Scorpions BMX club who instigated the track’s inception.
“I have invested a lot of time, effort and campaigning to get the track rebuilt to where we are today,” said Stewart, who was involved in the track design and a 2010 bid to resurface it. ” Over the years the site has suffered from anti-social behaviour which I would contest to years of under investment and the Castle field being a public open space.
“The BMX track in its current state is past its sell-by date and would be better off being demolished and to start again with a more modern track and off-road trails suitable for coaching mountain bike and cyclo-cross skills.
“There are two problems though.
“The first is funding and the second is that the proposed 3G pitch that they are looking at will take up a lot of room and encroaching on the existing location of the BMX track.
“Effectively, football is potentially pushing out BMX and off-road cycling.
“During the meeting I aired these views strongly having invested so much of my life in to this.
“It was agreed that we will look for a way for off-road cycling to play a part at the Castle Sports Complex, albeit what looks like a smaller part sadly.”
Stewart has also set up a meeting with SHDC, the regional manager of British Cycling and the head of national cycling facilities of British Cycling.
A spokesman for Spalding Cycling Club said: “We look forward to being part of the formal consultation on the new Castle Sports Complex. We would like to see the running track and BMX track retained, both of which are well used.”