Pump track response for City Council

Background

Worcester City Council is considering plans to install a pump track in Battenhall Park. Pump tracks are (usually) tarmaced loops with bumps, designed to be wheeled around in one direction. The idea is that you can make it all the way around the circuit without pedalling or touching the ground. On Monday 29th January, councillors are being asked to defer the decision on a pump track in Battenhall Park until June 2024, and also to allow officers to consider alternative sites (starting immediately).

Overall position

A cycling pump track will be an incredible asset for Worcester City and we fully support the City Council, members and officers for their ambition and vision for delivering a pump track for residents. We want these types of facilities to be available as soon as possible, to as many residents as possible, delivered to as high a standard as possible.

We have reviewed the officers’ report and the consultation responses. We support the recommendation from officers to consider alternative sites with immediate effect: in an ideal world, considerations for Battenhall Park would continue in parallel, but we do not support a position where the City Council investigates a site that will never be built: it’s a waste of time and money.

Battenhall Park

Bike Worcester believes that Battenhall Park is an excellent location for a pump track, given its high footfall, copious amounts of space, proximity to local schools, and distance from local housing. However, we note that there are issues with the site, relating to potential planning requirements that would delay the project.We do not think councillors should take an ultimate decision on Battenhall Park in PED on Monday 29th: too much remains unknown.

However, if it is considered that Battenhall Park is viable for a pump track of any kind, officers should be able to continue working on suitability assessments for Battenhall Park to enable a decision in June 2024. It is unclear whether the current wording of the recommendation would allow such work to occur.

Other sites

We’ve had conversations with many councillors this week, and whilst some have been supportive, it is hard for us to establish whether the lack of political backing for a pump track in Battenhall Park is due to legitimate considerations as outlined above, or whether pressure from a vocal minority has disproportionately influenced the debate.

As such, we’re concerned that there will be a lack of backing from councillors when considering locations for other pump tracks. We are concerned that the City Council officers will go from ward to ward to ward searching in vain for a site that will meet members’ approval. There is a risk that pump tracks are constantly blocked by councillors and we end up with no pump tracks.There are green shoots - we have had comments from some councillors that they would be delighted to install a pump track in their ward: these are extremely encouraging and it’s exciting that, as ever, cycling and active travel gives us an opportunity to work across party lines to deliver for the residents of Worcester.

Summary

Bike Worcester supports the decision to consider other sites for a pump track, immaterial of the considerations of Battenhall Park. We invite councillors to form a cross-party working group with Bike Worcester to support the City Council in mounting an ambitious pump track programme that delivers a destination pump track site as well as several local schemes in the next two years. We’d be delighted to have your support.

Rob Collier, Secretary and Dan Brothwell, Chair (Bike Worcester)

Concerns raised in the Consultation

Bike Worcester considers many of the reasons given in the consultation document to be unsound or misinformed:

Anti-social behaviour

Concerns regarding anti-social behaviour are wildly overstated. There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that pump tracks lead to an increase in anti-social behaviour. But, there is heaps of evidence to suggest that failing to provide facilities and activities for young people, and depriving them of opportunities to become invested in their local community does increase and exacerbate anti-social behaviour.

Impact on biodiversity

We do not believe that the introduction of a pump track will have a detrimental impact on biodiversity, especially given the nature of the proposed site. Giving young people agency over their natural environment, and incentive to spend time outside, is arguably a better opportunity for increased biodiversity than maintaining a grassy section. Bike Worcester would be delighted to work with the Worcester Environmental Group to arrange joint community engagement sessions that incorporate the proposed pump track.Given that the City Council has a policy for planning applications to show net biodiversity gains, Bike Worcester expects any pump track development to boost biodiversity rather than be detrimental.

Lack of tranquillity

Worcester City Council approved its first formal ‘play strategy’ which notes the lack of facilities for young people. Worcester is 86% below the required hectarage for youth play provision, yet the City Council appears to be favouring the perspective of those who would rather ‘protect’ the tranquillity of their weekend dog walk than invest in spaces for young people.

Parking concerns

The notion ‘this facility will be too popular, therefore we shouldn’t build it’ is almost offensively backwards: parking concerns relating to Battenhall Park should not lead to the deferment of one Pump Track, but should provide Worcester City Council motivation to build two or more, or at the very least, allocate funding for a much bigger facility. Battenhall Park is an ideal location due to its existing cycling routes from Warndon Villages, St Peter’s, Diglis and St John’s.Parking can be an issue at pump tracks due to their popularity, but the nature of Battenhall Park means that those visiting by car have lots of options and it is unlikely that a single access point will be overwhelmed, as can be the case in other locations. Visitors can be encouraged to park elsewhere and cycle to the Pump Track (Waitrose, County Hall, Norton, etc.).The issues of parking also highlights our ongoing campaign for better cycling infrastructure in Worcester. Recommendation 9 in Worcester’s Play Strategy is:Establish city-wide standards for creating safer streets for children/child-safe routes tobe implemented in all neighbourhood and public realm projects across the city.

The irony is not lost on us that a play space for children is being blocked in part by the inability for children and families to move safely through the City by bike.

Access for Emergency Services

We note concerns relating to access for emergency services, however there is good access to the proposed Pump Track site via Battenhall Road near Battenhall Rise. Parking restrictions should be considered to address these concerns.

We would also note that access to emergency services is not a brand new consideration, and applies equally to the two play areas already in situ in Battenhall Park, and as such we do not think this is a valid concerns.

Concerns regarding emergency access to a pump track (when there are no concerns for the play areas) is prejudiced on the assumption that a pump track is inherently more dangerous than a children’s play area. Bike Worcester is not aware of any evidence to support this perspective.

Image credit: playground-landscape.com