Ride Guide
New pump track for Walkerburn gets funding approval
Construction work on the new pump track will begin April 2024 and take 6-8 weeks. Funding has come from the Cycling Facilities Fund, an £8m Scottish Government fund managed by Scottish Cycling, DMBinS & sportscotland, and Scottish Borders Council.
Plans for a new pump track in Walkerburn are racing ahead after funding was officially confirmed for the project to start work next spring.
The money has come from the Cycling Facilities Fund, an £8m Scottish Fovernment fund managed by Scottish Cycling, DMBinS, and sportscotland, and the Scottish Borders Council (SBC) and construction will begin in April 2024.
The new pump track will cater for a wide range of community and youth groups, not only for cycling but also for other wheel-based activities such as skating and skateboarding. There will also be two basketball hoops and football goals as part of an upgraded multi-use games area facility.
Project manager Charlie Trousdell, from Walkerburn Community and Development Trust (WCDT), said:
This funding boost is fantastic news for the community.
‘We wanted to provide a much-needed, fun, free, community resource for the children (and adults) of the village that will encourage more people to take part in physical exercise and enjoy the outdoors.
‘Last year WCDT held a survey among villagers to gauge opinion on the proposal and the response was overwhelmingly positive.'
Becky Duncan - Open Aye CIC
Emma Guy, a WCDT member and project manager for the 2023 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships at Glentress, said the facilities would help create an entry point for non bikers.
‘The pump track at Walkerburn will be a great asset for beginners and local kids and is a missing piece of the Tweed Valley biking jigsaw.
‘We are looking forward to hosting local groups and lessons on the track and getting Walkerburn pedaling.'
Robin Tatler, Tweeddale East independent councillor, said
‘Congratulations to WCDT for their work in taking this from an idea that came out of a community fair to identify what local people wanted through to reality.
‘Myself and the other local councillors are delighted that funding from SBC is helping to make this happen and that our team will be working with WCDT to deliver the project.
‘Thanks also go to Sport Scotland for their major funding contribution – without which this would not be possible.
‘We all look forward to this facility opening next year and can be sure it will be well used by locals and visitors alike.’
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