After many months of fundraising and planning, work has finally started on the new bike pump track at Victory Park in Cainscross.
Jeni Marshall, Clerk to Cainscross Town Council, said: “We are thrilled to finally start work on renewing our old bike pump track. The last bit of funding needed came from our wonderful community hitting and then smashing our Crowdfunder campaign target. What an awesome demonstration of community support and effort! It has touched us all at the council, and we can’t wait to get the new track built and used by a community which has played such a crucial part in making it happen.”
The old track was created by the community in the 1980s. Over the years it has been much used and much loved but more recently in need of a professional rebuild to make it fit for purpose again.
Chris Handbury used the track as a youngster and was so keen to see it brought back to life that he made a donation to the Crowdfunder campaign to break ground on the build. Chris said: “This track is really important for the community, having been used and loved by three generations of locals. I want my son, Isaac, and his friends to get as much from it as we did.”
And to mark the occasion, Chris has built a custom track bike and christened it the Victory Park Edition.
Jeni added: “We extend a big thank you to everyone who donated to the campaign, who gave us rewards to encourage people to donate, who shared the campaign details or who simply spoke kindly about the project and helped spread the word. You all played a part in getting us to this point.”
Cainscross Town Council also thanked funders – Enovert, Gloucestershire Community Foundation, Gloucestershire County Council, Renishaw, Sport England, Stroud District Council, Tesco, Co-op and Archway School.
A donation was also made by the family and friends of North Vernon-White in his memory and to Louie Gibbons for instigating the non-uniform day at Archway School..
The track should be ready for use in five to six weeks.