Plan to develop pump track in town park

A town could get a new pump track after a council unanimously agreed to look into funding it.

Whitchurch has a small skate park at Jubilee Park, but people on bikes, skateboards and scooters have been venturing further afield in search of something better.

"They all go off to other areas like Tilston and Ellesmere, who have pump tracks, so it's been something that we've been thinking about for quite a while," said the town's deputy mayor, councillor Adele Jackson.

Whitchurch Town Council agreed on Wednesday to see whether about £70,000 of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) money could be put towards the development.

The authority will consider whether to build it in Jubilee Park, or another suitable location.

A pump track is a continuous circuit with small hills and banked turns popular with people on mountain bikes, BMX, skateboards, and scooters.

Jackson said the authority was in touch with Shrewsbury Town Council because "they've put [in] quite a few".

On a visit to one of the tracks, youngsters told her "how much they loved it", she told the meeting.

"It was really busy, and [users] came from far and wide," she added.

"We've already spoken to Shrewsbury Town Council about how much it would be and the type of track."

She said the town council would consult with youngsters on plans, and would consider one track for teenagers and another for smaller children.

Another councillor, Matt Phillips, suggested other play areas in Whitchurch could be considered for the facility, such as Deermoss.

Councillor Andy Hall asked for improved lighting to be considered, so the area was not dark at night.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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