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£160k funding package set to save Preston Park track

British Cycling agrees to provide most of funding to remedy defects at historic Brighton track

British Cycling has agreed a funding package that should help secure the future of the country’s oldest cycle track, Preston Park in Brighton, closed for competitive cycling since early last year due to safety concerns.

Following a series of meetings with Brighton & Hove City Council in the intervening months, the governing body is pledging most of the £160,000 required to remedy the defects at the 579-metre track, opened in 1878.

The governing body says it will be funding the works through a grant of £110,000, with the balance of £50,000 coming via planning applications under section 106 agreements.

British Cycling coaching, education and development director John Mills said: “Preston Park provides an excellent, traffic-free cycling facility, which is of great value to the people of Brighton and the wider South East Region.

“We are delighted to have agreed a partnership funding package for the work which will see this track return to full operation in the spring.”

Warren Morgan, leader of Brighton & Hove City Council, commented: “This announcement is excellent news for the cycling community.

“The Preston Park velodrome is a much loved part of our city’s history, being the oldest cycling track in the country.

“The funds will be put to good use to replace the fencing and carry out minor repairs.

“The track is used by riders of all abilities and after the repairs are completed everyone will be able to enjoy it, knowing it is a safer and refurbished place to cycle.

“It will also be wonderful for the Track League to return as it is a great community event every week, bringing people together from all over Sussex and further afield to compete in or spectate the racing,” he added.

It’s not clear at the moment whether the more than £7,500 raised for Preston Park in memory of Dylan Archer, one of the cyclists killed at last year’s Shoreham air crash, will go towards that £160,000 total or will be used in some other way.

However, according to British Cycling, the cost of the works “is lower than originally anticipated meaning more funding will remain for investment in the rest of Preston Park in line with its management plan.”

It is not the first time the organisation has stepped in to save an historic cycling facility; in 2011, British Cycling took over the lease of Herne Hill Velodrome, the last surviving venue of the London Olympic Games in 1948, and provided funds to resurface the track and redevelop facilities there.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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Rupert | 8 years ago
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If you haven't yet followed the Save Preston Park Cycle Track Campaign on Facebook and Twitter please do so. 

Although this is great news there is more work to do at the track in the future to make it fully self-sustainable. 

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/saveprestonparkcycletrack

Twitter http://www.twitter.com/saveppct

We are hoping that all the work will be completed by April when the Track League will commence on Wednesday nights. 

Follow us on the above social media for future information about the campaign. 

Well done to everybody that has supported the campaign and a big thank you to Brighton Council and British Cycling for finding the funds to complete this initial step. 

 

Here is a video 

http://www.youtu.be/pyvVQ6hYt8k

 

 

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LarryDavidJr | 8 years ago
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Yay!  Smiles all round!  Well done to everyone who organised and took part in the publicity events about saving the track. smiley

Hopefully it won't be too long before work can proceed.

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LarryDavidJr | 8 years ago
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[duplicate post]

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