Royston Rockets’ new track plans set for take off
AN INTERNATIONAL standard BMX track is a step closer to being built in Royston after councillors agreed to lease land to a racing club.
The Royston Rockets will now take over the Burns Road Recreation Ground in order to secure funding for the �60,000 to �80,000 refurbishment of their old course after Tuesday night’s North Herts District Council (NHDC) decision.
Phil Townsend, club chairman, said: “It is very positive. It is really good news we can move things forward and finalise the finer details of the lease. On the bigger side of things we can get our application in to Sport England to hopefully get some funding to get the work done over winter and get it ready for next year for the club and community.”
The club had previously feared for its future and Mr Townsend was concerned the 70-strong membership could dwindle if no improvements were made to the course.
If the funding is secured he believes the Royston Rockets could start attracting more riders and the attention of the British cycling establishment.
He told the Crow: “It will open doors and give them the opportunity to train on a track that’s of a standard of other international tracks in the country.
“Certainly it could be a benefit to the British Cycling Development team and they would be looking at this closely.”
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Cllr Terry Hone, NHDC’s portfolio holder for finance, performance and asset management, said: “The BMX track at Burns Road rec continues to be an extremely popular local facility and the BMX club have plans to bring it up-to-date for the benefit of people in Royston and beyond.
“Cabinet agreed last night that granting the club a lease on the site would help them acquire the funding they need to bring these plans to fruition, and the vote to agree the recommendation in the report was unanimous.”
