Ansley Common to benefit from off-road cycling track as part of £200,000 park improvement plans

Improvements to four play areas across North Warwickshire have been given the green light by councillors.

And plans to provide an off-road cycle facility at one of them has been praised by the chairman of the borough council's community and environment board when it met this week.

A report to councillors said that £200,000 was available for the work at the sites in Austrey, Coleshill, Piccadilly and Ansley Common – with the latter benefitting from a BMX or pump track.

The report explained: "BMX tracks are purpose built for bikes and usually consist of a starting gate for up to eight 'racers', a groomed, serpentine, dirt course made of various jumps and rollers, and a clear finish line.

"Pump tracks, which use an up and down 'pumping' motion to generate forward momentum, have a wider potential appeal. They are a particular draw for teenagers and are suitable for skateboards, rollerblades and scooters, as well as bikes."

Ansley Common Residents Association (ACRA) was cautiously supportive of the possible development of an off-road cycle facility, but said that the on-site CCTV cameras needed to be working and actively monitored in order to deter any possible anti-social behaviour.

In addition it is planned to provide a number of natural features such as boulders to encourage imaginative play will be installed and it is proposed that the existing entrance, access gates and signs are replaced to improve first impressions of the site.

Referring to the report, committee chairman Cllr Margaret Bell (Con, Hartshill) said: "I was very pleased to see that there were some facilities being considered for the older children and not just the little ones, something which we've identified as a need in the past."

Various items at the three other sites will be replaced including bicycle roundabouts, spring turtles and various see-saws.

Young visitors to Coleshill's Cole End Park will also be able to enjoy a nature-themed play trail within the local nature reserve which will include nature-themed sculptures and play panels. Picnic benches will also be installed in the park.

The safe surface flooring of the play areas at Coleshill, Austrey and Piccadilly will also be replaced.