BMX track could lead to Olympic glory

Adam Hewitt • Last updated 9 Oct 2008 16:03 5 Comments

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EARLEY'S planned BMX track could be the staging ground for a new generation of Olympic medal winners, councillors have said.

The controversial plan has infuriated nearby residents who want the track relocated from near their houses in Paddick Drive near Lower Earley Way.

But now the ruling Tory group on Earley Town Council, still consulting on the plans, has said many top Team GB cyclists started out riding BMXs. Chris Hoy was once the second rated BMX rider in the country, and 9th in the world, before he switched to the velodrome.

Cllr Matt Deegan said: "Chris Hoy and others started out as BMXers, and swapped to track cycling back before BMX became an Olympic sport, it shows that even people of this pedigree start out doing this kind of stuff and it's obviously been good for them."

The councillors are putting together a leaflet as part of the consultation which will be delivered to households in coming weeks, laying out some of the advantages of the proposed track.

At every meeting about the track, 50 to 60 protesters have turned up bearing 'Say No to BMX' placards and concerned that the plans are badly thought through and that Paddick Drive was selected against the advice of local youth workers.

At a recent meeting, Ian Clinton of Paddick Drive said: "If you look at Sol Joel park, the place is full of graffiti, drugs, and anti-social behaviour. If they can't make that work, what makes them think they make this work?"

Dave Lovell added: "We're already the victims of anti-social behaviour, and this will make our problems ten times worse."

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 28 Aug 08

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