I know the perfect place for Barnstaple's BMX track
BMX bike riding is an Olympic sport, we were one of the top gold medal contenders in Beijing. We're good at it, it's healthy, good fun for teenagers and kids — and I've spotted the perfect opportunity to promote this sport in Barnstaple.
There's an ideal spot lying vacant — between the new bridge and the rugby fields.
I suggest NDC get a digger in there for a day and fashion a large racing track with hills. The result could be future Olympic champions, but at the very least, healthy happy kids. (We shouldn't forget that the excellent track that was there before, was sacrificed for the new bridge.)
The kids have already started building mini hills next to the Tarka Trail, and my son has disappeared off on his bike every day after school this week, returning happy and tired three hours later. They've done that themselves, but they deserve more.
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If the council needs to justify the cost of a digger for the day, I can reassure them that there will be substantially reduced NHS costs in the future because the kids that use it will be far healthier and happier as a result.
TONIA HEWLETT,
Richmond Street.
Barnstaple.
Comments
by Matthaywood37
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 3:10PM
“I know this subject was spoken about back in 2008 but I feel it still deserves a response.
Barnstaple has had two BMX tracks that have fallen foul to the towns expanding road network. The first was located at Severn brethrens bank. It was located behind where the Tarka Tennis Centre is now. The track was a regional standard track with potential to expand up to a National Standard Track in the future. This was bulldozed to make way for the western bypass.
A new location was found next to the rugby club and a track design was drawn up to make best use of the space provided. It was built from the ground up by parents and riders who put in many many hours of their time to ensure it was up to standard for Regional Racing. Sadly due to the space limitations it would never be possible to construct a National Standard track at this location. Again this track was to fall foul of another road expansion and was bulldozed to make way for the new down stream bridge leaving the town without a track for the first time in nearly 15 years.
I firmly believe that Devon County Council should provide a new facility that matched the original track in both size and potential. BMX racing has progressed over the years the tracks have also progressed to the point where it now requires specialised builders to ensure that requirements of British cycling regulations are met. Electronic starting systems, Tarmac berms to name a few. If you invest in the sport people will use it. I know that braunton BMX club is thriving but do not have their own track to hold race meetings.
I hope that something is done to put barnstaple back in the racing calendar in the near future, for it always has been and will be a true family sport.
Matt Haywood
Ex Barnstaple Bandits BMX Club Rider & committee member.”
by Pete, Pilton
Sunday, September 28 2008, 4:36PM
“Ref the above letter, There has or was a BMX track specially built near where the downtream bridge is years ago but it was left to fall into decay as like skateboarding it seems to be a passing phase the youngsters go through, most of them seem to have a very short attention span these days...”