Paignton velodrome plan moves a step closer
The Westcountry is set to become a "Mecca" for cyclists after plans for the first combined outdoor velodrome and road track outside London and Manchester were given the go-ahead.
The move comes after stages of the Tour of Britain were successfully staged in Devon and as business leaders put together ambitious plans to one day host the start of the greatest cycle race of all – the Tour de France.
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Herne Hill
The outdoor velodrome would be similar to the country's best-known example at Herne Hill in South London.
Torbay council agreed to fund half the £1.5 million cost of building the facility and hopes that providing "iconic" resources of such regional significance will open the door to new streams of funding.
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Councillors agreed to the project, despite facing £10 million cuts to its spending budget, to take advantage of a once-in-a-generation opportunity to cement the area as a regional centre for the sport.
British Cycling, which is led by Sir Dave Brailsford, the driving force behind the massive haul of track medals and the nation's first Tour de France victory last year, has identified the area as its number one target for the centre.
Robert Excell, Torbay council lead member for sport, said he was 99% certain of realising the centre although he admitted the funding was "not yet sorted".
"The Torbay Development Agency will now ask what developers and investors think – there is a lot of interest being shown," he added. "British Cycling have looked at the areas, seen the need for a cycling destination in the South West and recognised Torbay as the ideal location.
"We want Torbay to become the cycling Mecca in the South West."
The twin facilities – a 400m outdoor banked oval track and a 1.5km closed road cycling circuit – are planned for land at Clennon Valley, near Paignton.
The council would own and manage them for both community use and competitive cycling. The nearest velodrome is in Bournemouth and those wanting to use a closed road cycle circuit currently need to travel as far as Birmingham or London.
Manchester, home to the National Cycling Centre and London, with its newly-built Olympic velodrome, are the only areas which have both a closed road circuit and a velodrome
British Cycling (BC) has described the provision of new facilities in the South West as one of its highest national priorities and intends to jointly fund the project, matching the £780,000 approved last week.
The road circuit would also be used for cycle proficiency training as well as providing a safe environment for roller blading and disabled sports.
The council says it is hoping to provide "another sports resource of regional significance" which would pave the way for application to the "iconic facilities grant and other high value funding opportunities".
14 Comments
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by MisterDonut
Thursday, March 07 2013, 10:01AM
“If that is a pavement around the inside of the track I hope the council will be more adept at making sure it stays clean of the inevitable use that dog owners in Torbay seem to think the pavements are for.”
by spindleshanks
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 4:34PM
“@MikeLister - please read my full earlier posting - the floating pontoon scheme in the inner harbour has serious potential flaws, (surprised not one councillor in the meeting didn't spot them as there are all spelt out louad and clear on the "Risks" page) and as I have stated spend the money allocated for it on getting the velodrome built ASAP. I note the harbour users didn't have to wait for part funding before being granted 100% funding from Torbay Council!
No wonder the decision regarding the velodrome was deferred from the same council meeting where the inner harbour berthing scheme was approved to the following council meeting.
Fabulous arrangement of priorities and too many questions no doubt.”
by mikelister66
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 11:45AM
“@spindleshanks - what does that have to do with the Velodrome?”
by MisterDonut
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 11:01AM
“Paddyfields sounds like the best option.”
by Appyjack
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 10:25AM
“Clennon Valley is a flood plain - so it will be cycling in the dry season and then canoeing and jet skiing in the wet season!
Sounds like a good plan to me, maybe the perimeter could be decorated with some nice exotic & expensive palm trees?”
by magpie8
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 5:01AM
“Good idea unless it adds to my council tax, if it does it's a bad idea - simple.”
by Blondeee
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 10:02PM
“I am a bit sceptical about this, not sure it is a big enough investment to make a difference to tourism, racers or local people. When I say big enough, I mean an indoor velodrome with spectator seating and changing facilities would perhaps facilitate significant competitions. For such a unique opportunity, it must be difficult to gauge what difference this will make to the economy. I do worry about the Council looking to investors, whilst they would own the velodrome, perhaps they would contract the track to a company, but I just don't see it as a lucrative and regular income opportunity. I have seen this before, look at Parkfield, all the gear and no idea. I would imagine extremely keen for a contractor to take the facility over, badly thought through. How much do our Councillors really know about Sport? Maybe if someone was brave enough to invest in Clennon as a whole and develop a sports arena which could encorporate a venue for concerts etc, for multi purpose use, we could be talking.”
by SteveTorbay
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 6:48PM
“Ideal, what an excellent plan to help amuse the "Travellers when they arrive for their annual stay here, they will be able to race the single pony and traps that they sometimes have...”
by spindleshanks
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 5:04PM
“What about the £800,000 that's been found by Torbay Council to create a development of 173 holiday homes, (a.k.a. boats), that could potentially pollute the inner harbour in Torquay? Bet it wouldn't get past planning if someone suggested building 173 holiday cottages in Torquay with sewers that could potentially empty into the inner harbour. Thought not.
Can someone please explain how that scheme is going to work in a harbour that doesn't fully flush with every tide?
Spend the money allocated for the provision of 173 floating pontoon berths on getting the velodrome built ASAP and start getting visitors here now and find a better use for the inner harbour that doesn't have the same potential negative enviromental impact.”
by spindles12
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 4:47PM
“IF this velodrome ever gets built I wonder if it will eventually close because of budget cuts, just like the athletic stadium in Sheffield recently. At least there will be one good thing to come out of it if it's built, it will keep all those fanatical lycra-clad cyclists off the roads.”