Work to build the borough’s first specialist BMX track and community club will start later this year after council proposals were approved.
Keen BMXers of all ages and abilities, including toddlers and the disabled, will be able to use the facilities when they are built next to the sports pavilion in Norbury Park. The plans were approved by the council’s planning committee on Thursday.
The track will be home to Croydon BMX, a new volunteer-led community club. During daylight hours on weekdays the facilities will be available to schools and local groups, with club sessions at weekends.
Croydon BMX will be supplied with all the necessary equipment including bikes, helmets, gloves and pads, which qualified local coaches will use in the community sessions.
The £99,000 cost of designing and installing the track and carrying out related works such as fencing will be met from section 106 developer contributions to the council. The £24,000 cost of setting up the club will be provided through £12,000 from the Mayor of London’s Olympics legacy fund and Croydon Council matching that investment with another £12,000.
The scheme will be run by Access Sport, which supports BMX clubs and tracks across 14 other London boroughs. Access Sport’s BMX Legacy Programme was set up as a legacy of the 2012 Olympics and the charity plans to offer introductory sessions and coaching training for local people through the new Croydon BMX club.
“I’m really pleased that we can get started on building Croydon’s first specialist BMX track. This is vital investment in our parks and green spaces, which ensures that more local people of all ages and abilities can enjoy them.”
Councillor Timothy Godfrey, cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport
In February 2011 Access Sport received the support of the Olympic host boroughs, the Greater London Authority and British Cycling to launch the BMX Legacy Programme.
