THE battle to create a cycle track around Swinden Playing Fields has got the back-up of Pendle Council’s Colne and District Committee.
The playing fields are very much on the boundary of Nelson, Colne and Barrowford, so it would be a useful facility for lots of young people.
The plan is to create a very long hourglass or eight-shape circuit, with loops at either end but with long double tracks between them, going separate ways.
The plan – which was originated by Cycle Sport Pendle – runs on the edge of the playing fields on the Colne Water side.
A bid was made to get £5,000 from Colne Committee. It would be a contribution towards the £300,000 totally required to create the route and also restore the existing pavilion, which is currently not used.
A bid is being made to get half that cash from Inspired Facilities funding, but the other half would have to be acquired. Bids have been made to three Pendle Council Committees – Nelson and Barrowford as well as Colne.
Cycle Sport Pendle is keen to see the creation of a cycle circuit nearer home. The one they currently use is at the Manchester Velodrome. There is a great increase in the demand for cycle training for young people in Pendle.
The Swinden track would be 1.2 kilometres long. It would also be a useful base for Pendle Leisure Trust’s new Adapted Cycle Scheme.
At the Colne meeting, CSP’s Peter Boast said: “Pendle is just growing and growing and growing with youngsters on bikes.” He encouraged the committee to provide funding.
Coun. Ann Kerrigan said: “I do want to support this bid.” And she added that it was arguably a facility for the whole of Pendle and could be sponsored by all five areas committees.
Members agreed to fund the scheme, but suggested that it could be arranged to get £3,000 from each of the five area committees.