8:00am Monday 25th January 2010
By Michael Purton
NEW images of designs for a state-of-the-art cycle park have been released, but the size and cost of the facility is still up in the air.
Kent County Council (KCC) has revealed computer generated images of the Cyclopark, which will be off the A2 in Northfleet and was given planning permission in August.
In the images, the park is shown to include a cycle track, BMX track, skate park, pavilion, football pitches, playground and pavilion for indoor sports.
However, the number of facilities and the size of the park depends on the outcome of KCC’s application for funding to government grant body Sport England, which will make a decision in March.
With the Sport Englang grant, the Cyclopark will cost up to £11m and be up to 46 hectares, but without the money it will be smaller and cost around £5m.
This £5m has already been generated through grants from British Cycling and the Homes and Communities Agency, the government organisation responsible for regeneration.
A KCC spokesman said the park will definitely be “at least three times the size of the Olympic velopark in Hackney”, which is 10 hectares, and “boast a 2.8km race track and an international standard BMX track”.
Work has begun on the site, with an archaeological survey of the land underway, but the spokesman could not say when the park will be completed and opened.
Yesterday British cyclist Jamie Staff, who won a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, gave his backing to the Cyclopark.
On a visit to Gravesham to meet young cyclists from the area, he said: “As soon as I heard about this project I was keen to be involved.
“I’m passionate about getting people active and on their bikes and the cycling park project is going to give everyone in the area an ideal location to do this.”
In spring last year KCC consulted more than 2,000 people for their feedback on the park, and around 80 per cent were in favour of the plans.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/trade_directory/