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Campaigners petition for long-awaited pump track

Susie Rack
BBC News, West Midlands
Getty Images A female cyclist seen from behind riding a mountain bike round a bend in a steeply curved track. She is standing up on her pedals and wearing navy shorts, a pale blue crop top and helmet and her hair is tied back in a short ponytail. The sun casts her shadow to her left and grass can be seen adjacent to the track.Getty Images
Planning permission was originally given for the track in 2008

Campaigners have launched a petition calling for a specialist track for bikes, scooters and skateboards in a Shropshire town after 16 years of delays.

Campaigners want a pump track to be installed on wasteland next to Oswestry Leisure Centre.

Councillor Olly Rose from Oswestry Town Council said permission was granted for a facility there in 2008 but discussions had dragged on.

Shropshire Council said it had been holding discussions with the town council for over a year.

The authority added: "A meeting was held last month to update the town council on the latest position and further conversations will be held in the coming weeks."

Olly Rose A man and woman stand next to each other on grass in front of a wooden bench. The man is holding up a black bike, wearing a black bike helmet, dark grey jumper and black jeans. The woman has shoulder-length brown hair and is wearing a long black and white checked coat with a poppy at the lapel. Long grass and shrubs can be seen in the background.Olly Rose
Theo Merchant (left) partnered with Olly Rose to start the petition

"The money's there, the site's there," said Theo Merchant from Mule Cycles. "We just need Shropshire Council to gift the land to Oswestry Town Council."

Mr Merchant started campaigning for a track, which was approved as part of plans for a new leisure centre, after speaking to young customers in the bike shop where he works.

"It's just never materialised," he said. "There's a lot of young people here and there's nothing for them to do."

He recalled making "friends for life" at tracks near where he grew up.

"I moved to Oswestry about six years ago from Wolverhampton," he said. "In Wolverhampton there's five pump tracks, in Shrewsbury there's six. Oswestry doesn't have anything.

"There's a tiny skatepark on the other side of town and it's not fit for purpose."

He joined forces with Rose to start the petition calling for Shropshire Council to sell or pass the land to the town council, which has funds to build it.

"We are at a loss to understand why it is taking so long to get an answer from Shropshire Council," Rose said. "It has been a priority for Oswestry Town Council for several years."

It is estimated the track would cost at least £100,000, which the town council plans to fund through the sale of the Smithfield site more than a decade ago.

Theo Merchant An area of grass to the side of a large grey and blue tile two-storey building. A wooden bench with a brass plaque is on the left and small shrubs/bushes are visible in the background.Theo Merchant
The land next to Oswestry Leisure Centre was earmarked for a BMX track under plans passed in 2008

Rose said there had been recent issues with young people creating their own bike jumps in "unsuitable places", including on an ancient Oswestry hillfort.

"It would be great to have a purpose-built facility for them to enjoy exercise and have fun outside," she said.

The petition runs until 7 February, after which a senior Shropshire Council officer will respond.

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