Work begins on cycle circuit at city college

Work is beginning on a new purpose-built cycle training circuit in Leicester.

The outdoor facility – which will be called Leicester Cycle Circuit – is being built on land at New College Leicester, and will provide a traffic-free place for cyclists of all ages and abilities to train and ride.

The £750,000 project is being funded by British Cycling, New College Leicester and Leicester City Council, and will create a 1km closed loop in the grounds of the college. It will be suitable for competitive cycling, training and recreational use.

The circuit will be floodlit and fenced, with a designated parking area created for users.

Building work will take about four months to complete.

Cllr Adam Clarke, assistant city mayor for energy and sustainability, said: “This circuit will be available to cyclists of all backgrounds and abilities. It will mean children can learn in safety, young people can get more involved in cycling, adults can take up a great new activity and clubs and groups will have another option for their training. It will also be a new home for the Wheels For All project, which encourages people with disabilities to try out amazing specially adapted bikes.

“We’re very pleased to be working in partnership with British Cycling and New College Leicester and to invest in this exciting project. Cycling is vital to addressing Leicester’s health and transportation challenges as well as being a sport that produces inspirational Olympic stars. By providing the perfect place to practise traffic-free, people will be able to develop new skills and confidence whilst enjoying this state of the art facility.”

Wayne Allsopp, business development manager at New College Leicester, said: “This will be a great facility for the city and a fantastic addition to our sports village. We already have more than 2,500 regular community sport users and we hope that the cycle circuit will bring even more people to our outstanding facilities.

“We’re very committed to sports development and are dedicated to placing the college at the heart of our local community and at the heart of the city’s sporting landscape.”

British Cycling’s director of coaching, education and development, John Mills, said: “We were delighted to be able to support this project, and it’s great to see work beginning on the new circuit.

“Our aim is to create a network of traffic-free cycling facilities across the country, allowing people of all ages and abilities to build their cycling skills and confidence. The Leicester Cycle Circuit will allow the people of the city to do just that, and we look forward to seeing local people taking up this opportunity when the circuit is operational.”

Community groups, clubs or individuals who would like to find out more about the circuit and how to get involved are invited to an open evening at New College Leicester on 15 December from 6.30-8pm.

The evening will cover a range of topics including how to book sessions; volunteering and coaching courses; and options to ‘pay and ride’. Anyone is welcome to attend.