Building work underway on Burgess Hill BMX bike track

Building work is underway in Burgess Hill to create the first new BMX bike track of its kind in the district.
Biker Neil Kemp (left) has helped in the council's development of the new bike track. Pic Steve RobardsBiker Neil Kemp (left) has helped in the council's development of the new bike track. Pic Steve Robards
Biker Neil Kemp (left) has helped in the council's development of the new bike track. Pic Steve Robards

The facility, at Leylands Park, near Maple Drive, has been design by Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC) with much help from local youth groups and BMX enthusiasts.

Public consultation events were held last summer where residents discussed plans submitted by four leading bike track designers and those who attended selected their preferred layout.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The new BMX track will be a ‘W’ shaped design to create a series of long straights and large jumps.

Biker Neil Kemp (left) has helped in the council's development of the new bike track. Pic Steve RobardsBiker Neil Kemp (left) has helped in the council's development of the new bike track. Pic Steve Robards
Biker Neil Kemp (left) has helped in the council's development of the new bike track. Pic Steve Robards

The track will feature a combination of rollers and step-ups, as well as double and triple jumps.

It will also feature a tightly designed ‘pump track’ which will be a separate course where bikers use an up and down ‘pumping’ motion to propel the bicycle forward instead of pedalling.

The £45,000 project has been funded by Section 106 contributions - payments that developers must make towards local facilities when they build new homes in the area.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Building work is already well underway and the completed BMX track is expected to open in August 2014.

Councillor Pru Moore, MSDC Cabinet Member for Leisure and Sustainability, said: “It’s so exciting to see these plans develop from initial designs through to the construction work on the ground.

“A great deal of credit must go to the passionate young BMX riders who live locally and stressed to us at the Council just how important this new track is to them.

“This new track is going to be a wonderful community facility that will attract BMX riders from all over the district. BMX riding is part of the Olympics now so who knows, maybe a future gold medallist will start to learn their skills right here in Mid Sussex,” she added.