A NEW closed road cycling circuit in the county could move one step closer to becoming a reality following a report recommending that the council advertises for expressions of interest from landowners.
The report, which will be heard by Carmarthenshire County Council’s Executive Board on Monday (May 9), provides an update on the background of the proposal, and outlines the specifications required for a raceworthy circuit.
It was announced earlier this year that £500,000 was to be made available to fund this development, which is linked to the council’s aim to turn Carmarthenshire into the ‘cycling hub of Wales.’
At the time, Executive Board Member for Regeneration Meryl Gravell said: “The authority has identified £500,000 towards the development of a closed circuit cycling facility.
“We are working closely with Welsh Cycling to identify the most suitable location for the facility. A meeting is due to take place shortly.”
Welsh Cycling is the National Governing Body for cycle sport in Wales. Covering all recognized cycling disciplines: road, track, mountain bike, cyclo-cross, cycle speedway and BMX. Welsh Cycling’s strategic outcomes include ensuring every child is able to cycle; increasing the number of people able to cycle safely and achieve their personal goals; and international success for Welsh cyclists.
The report states that CCC’s cycling (and walking) strategy has three main focus areas: Development pathways; events; and infrastructure.
One of the key infrastructure needs in Wales identified by Welsh Cycling and Sport Wales as vital for further development is the creation of more ‘quality closed road circuit facilities.’
For this reason, both groups have given their backing and support to a purpose-built floodlit closed-road facility in Carmarthenshire.
The report states that funding has been agreed in the authority’s capital programme, to the tune of £500,000.
The report also states that no future running costs are anticipated for the facility, which would be ‘of British standard, and the best in Wales, if not the UK, attracting local, regional and national events, races, and training camps.’
The projected financial benefits of the proposed development feature heavily in the report, with examples including Yorkshire’s hosting of a Tour de France stage (£120m return on a £35m outlay) the 14,000 people who entered the Wales Velothon last year (paying £70 each) and the £4.1m economic boost predicted by Monmouthshire from hosting a stage of the Tour of Britain.
The benefits to the health and wellbeing of the local population are also mentioned.
The report recommends that ‘in order to manage risk and ensure best value’ the council should advertise in the ‘local press’ to ensure that there are no landowners in the county willing to base the track on their land.
A number of council-owned facilities will also be considered, though as yet no details on which ones has been provided.
It is also recommended that the council takes the lead on design and construction work, procured through the internal framework agreement, to manage risk.
Should a third-party site be chosen, the council is advised to enter into a head lease with the landowner, with an under-lease to Welsh Cycling to operate the facility. The report states that this will incur no costs for the council.
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