Ministers asked for new cycle track to replace Meadowbank

Published on Saturday 13 September 2008 11:14

MINISTERS are to be asked to stump up cash for a new cycling facility in Edinburgh to replace the under-threat Meadowbank velodrome.

Council leader Jenny Dawe, below, said she would write to First Minister Alex Salmond after the Government vowed to listen to Olympic hero Chris Hoy's concerns about the lack of training facilities for youngsters.

At the same time, Scottish Cycling today said between 2.5 million and 3m should be spent on a "basic" indoor track in the east of the country.

But campaigners fighting to save Meadowbank Stadium from demolition still want the existing outdoor facility to be retained.

The council is planning to build a 25m revamped sports complex at Meadowbank by selling a third of the land for housing, with the loss of the velodrome.

It has promised to provide a new training facility somewhere else in the city, with one option being a joint velodrome, canoe and judo centre in Leith.

Cllr Dawe said: "There will be a track cycling facility in the city. I have been speaking to youngsters and cycling organisations, and all they want is something that can be used for practice.

"Alex Salmond has talked about it (improving facilities]. I will be writing to him to say that we do have plans, and is there any way that can be facilitated?"

Triple gold medal winner Hoy recently said he received assurances about his concerns from Nicola Sturgeon, the Deputy First Minister.

"They are keen to speak to me and ask for advice in terms of facilities," he said.

A council spokesman said: "Although cycling is moving away from Meadowbank, we want to create a new track cycling facility for Edinburgh.

"We are aware of Scottish Government support for cycling facilities outside Glasgow and the council is behind that idea – but we will be looking for external assistance to pay for it.

"The ideal situation would be that a new cycling facility is in place before the Meadowbank track is taken down and that is what we will aim for."

The council's plan is to shut Meadowbank in early 2011, and construct new facilities within two years. Meanwhile, a state-of-the-art velodrome will be built in Glasgow for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

A spokesman for Scottish Cycling said the east of Scotland should have "a basic facility and not a direct replacement for what is currently there".

"The track would be used as a feeder facility into the new Glasgow velodrome," he said.

"The main issue now is to have a facility that is suitable for training and low-level competition. This would allow riders in the east to train without the threat of being rained off.

"A track built for 2.5m would not be suitable for events such as the two Grand Prix that take place at Meadowbank each year, however that is not a major concern as the new track in Glasgow will be available for that purpose."

But Save Meadowbank spokesman Kevin Connor said: "Edinburgh Council and the Scottish Government both say they want to honour Chris Hoy for his achievements. The best way the council can do that is to retain track cycling at Meadowbank with Alex Salmond providing the funds."