Back in August 2020, a few families approached Pinhoe Forum to see if we could find out what was happening with the bike bump area in Station Road Playing Fields. It was overgrown and unsafe, but still used and valued by families who were keen to renovate it.
Following conversations with Exeter City Council and local councillors, it was announced that £45k was available from S106 money to develop a Pump Track. This money will be released when houses on the Taylor Wimpey development are ready for occupation.
Louise Harvey, then ECC Service Manager for Public and Green Spaces, mentioned we have an award-winning track designer who not only lives in Pinhoe but also designed one of the city’s most successful facilities: an opportunity to work with Tim Ruck was not to be missed!
In September, Tim took a look at the park: basing a track alongside the renewed pitch area would give the site real potential. We discussed options to pursue further grant funding to enable a holistic approach to the site, securing access and amenity for the whole community as well as ensuring any bike facility was ambitious, accessible for a range of ages and abilities, and had a sustainable future.
Wider consultation is the next important step to open up the process to the whole community, especially to hear from young people but also to ensure this area works for as many people as possible, so that walkers and dog owners are included too.
Tim has put together a range of suggestions with rough ideas for budgets so we can gauge the opportunity to apply for additional funding >
