Spoke put in wheel over push for new cycle speedway track

The call for more cycle facilities, particularly ones aimed at children, came from Coun Joe Marjoram (Con, Calverley and Farsley) who raised the issue at a recent meeting of the full council.

He asked the council leader, Coun Keith Wakefield, if he would “instruct officers to begin work to bring more dedicated cycle facilities to Leeds, particularly for children, including a cycle speedway track similar to the facility opened last year in Sheffield?”

Now in a written response the idea has been ruled out.

The answer he received said: The council continues to develop the Leeds Core Cycle Network. This is a network of 17, mainly radial, routes around Leeds that are suitable for novice cyclists and provide routes for commuting, school and leisure. Five routes have been completed and another three are scheduled for completion this financial year. The council also seeks to improve cycle facilities through non-cycle specific highway improvement schemes and by including facilities in major projects such as the A65 Quality Bus Initiative.

“In addition, the council is part of the Sustrans Access to Education project, which has received Local Sustainable Transport Funding and is aimed specifically at school children. Its aim is to increase cycling levels in schools with the provision of small measures to improve access to the schools and by carrying out ‘Bike-it’ cycle training. Four Secondary schools and their feeder Primaries will be targeted in Leeds.

“There is currently a grass cycle track at Roundhay Park, with no further plans to create another permanent facility at this time.”

Con Marjoram described the replay he had received as “deeply disappointing.”

He said: “The cycling success of Otley’s Lizzie Armitstead has given the whole of Leeds a massive boost. To see a local person achieving success on the ultimate sporting stage is a great achievement.

“However, the fact that she has achieved this success in cycling only serves to highlight the lack of facilities across the city to help our young people gain a foothold in what is a massively popular sport.”