A new cycling hub has been proposed for Hunter's Hall Park in Edinburgh.

There are four possible options for the new facilities and these are now on public display, before they are submitted to the Culture and Sport Committee in December for approval.

The initiative aims to encourage more people to take up cycling in the city and the local authority has said it would like the local community to get involved with the scheme.

A survey has been created to allow locals to share their views on the proposals, while members of Edinburgh Council's sport team will be visiting a number of venues throughout the city to hold consultations on the cycling hub.

A total of £1.2m has been set aside for the project, which could include a closed road circuit, BMX facility and small cycle speedway track. Currently, the local authority has offered four options illustrating the different combinations of the hub.


They are:



• Option 1 – A cycle speedway track and BMX facility, with one full-size 3G pitch and one smaller 3G kickpitch.

• Option 2 – A cycle speedway track, a BMX facility, plus a closed road circuit and an outdoor velodrome. This also has two full-size 3G pitches.

• Option 3 – A cycle speedway track, a BMX facility, plus a closed road circuit and two full-size 3G pitches, but no velodrome.

• Option 4 – A cycle speedway track, a BMX facility, plus an outdoor velodrome and two full-size 3G pitches, but no closed road circuit.



The plans have been designed by Reaich and Hall architects.

Welcoming the announcement, Councillor Richard Lewis, Edinburgh's Culture and Sports Convener, said: "It is part of the Council's broader aim to provide more opportunities for people to get active, and it is hoped that these facilities will prove an exciting and fun way people to take part in sport and perhaps join a club. All the facilities would be open at low cost to anyone with an interest, and there would be free sessions made available also for local young people.

"We know that we need to provide facilities that can encourage and nurture the development of sport and specifically cycling. We also know that the proposals for Hunter's Hall outline potential changes to the level of open green space in the park, and we understand there will be concerns about this. We want to hear residents' thoughts on this before proposals go to Committee, and this is why we are embarking on the consultation."

The survey can be found here.

(JP/IT)