Hoblingwell Cycle Track: works progress on the all-wheeled bike track and cycle club

The Bromley Bike Hub project will soon be available to use in the coming weeks when the final touches are completed.  At that point, the protective fencing will be removed, with associated landscape improvements to follow. Once built, the completed cycle track will be available for all types of non-motorised wheeled sports including mountain bikes, scooters, balance bikes, BMX bikes, skateboards and in-line skates and will improve leisure facilities at the recreation ground.  In addition to the asphalt pump track, a learn to ride area is being established in the adjacent playground.

Access Sport, the council’s partner, is also currently working with the local community to raise awareness and interest in the new track, which will ultimately see the establishment of a volunteer-led club to ensure that the facility is well used. Once complete, the track will complement the other facilities at the recreation ground which form part of the Hoblingwell Hub. 

Councillor William Huntington-Thresher, Executive Councillor for Environment and Community Services said, “I am really pleased that we have made good progress since construction work began, with the track now taking shape.  I would like to thank local people for their support and understanding as the build has progressed, including the friends and all those who are part of the Hoblingwell Hub.  As soon as the track work is complete, we’ll remove the fencing, enabling the track to be used at the earliest opportunity, with the landscaping work then following.  This will be an excellent addition to leisure facilities in the area.”

The finished scheme will include associated landscaping features including seating areas, storage units for equipment, way finding and facility signage, cycle parking, litter bins and tree planting, including a community orchard which will be introduced in partnership with the Friends of Hoblingwell Wood.

The £457k project is moving ahead with thanks to council and grant funding support from Access Sport, Clarion Futures, the charitable foundation of Clarion Housing Group, the Bromley Safer Neighbourhood Board, The London Marathon Charitable Trust, and the Places to Ride programme, which is being delivered by British Cycling, Sport England & the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), alongside the work of the council and idverde, the council’s greenspace management contractor.

The construction of the track is being undertaken by Clark and Kent Contractors, with the landscaping undertaken by Blakedown Landscapes (SE) Ltd. Works on site are being overseen by Elsie Josland Landscape Design on behalf of Access Sport, in conjunction with idverde, the Council’s greenspace management contractor.

Ends

Notes to editors: 

• Grant funding from a variety of funders, included £149,624 from the Places to Ride investment programme (led by British Cycling, Sport England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport); £75,000 from London Marathon Charitable Trust; £20,000 from Clarion Futures, the charitable foundation of Clarion Housing Group; £5,000 from the Bromley Safer Neighbourhood Board plus a minimum of £65,000 from the council and £115,000 of ‘in-kind’ funding from Access Sport have allowed this work to go ahead. 
• idverde are the council’s contractor for managing and maintaining Bromley’s parks and greenspaces in partnership with Friends of Parks, sports, allotment and other community groups.
• Access Sport is a charity working to improve children and young people’s health and wellbeing, working solely with young people in deprived communities and with an emphasis on young disabled people  To get involved in the project please contact  lucy.fisher@accessport.co.uk
• The Hoblingwell Hub was set up by the Friends of Hoblingwell Wood Recreation Ground to represent all the different activities that take place in the park, including a variety of sports provision.
• Sport England is a public body that invests up to £300 million National Lottery and government money each year in projects and programmes that help people get active and play sport. It wants everyone in England, regardless of age, background, or level of ability, to feel able to engaged in sport and physical activity. The £15 million Places to Ride fund opened in November 2018 and was set up to secure a legacy from the 2019 UCI
• Road World Championships in Yorkshire. It has been delivered through a partnership of British Cycling, Sport England and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). 
• The London Marathon Charitable Trust provides funding to schemes that maintain and increase participation in physical activity by all members of the community 
• Clarion Futures fund a range of projects that encourage community engagement and promote health and wellbeing, including projects that regenerate local facilities. 
• Clark and Kent Contractors design and build BMX bike tracks ranging from championship venues to village pump tracks
• Blakedown Landscaping (SE) Ltd design landscapes for clients across multiple sectors including local authorities, the Royal Parks, schools and universities

For media enquiries, please contact Andrew Rogers, Head of Public Affairs, on 020 8461 7670 or email andrew.rogers@bromley.gov.uk.