Derby - meeting with sustrans

[Tom Butcher]

Dear All,

Dave Clasby of Sustrans has approached me to gauge opinion of local cyclists
re. a possible closed road circuit or track in Derby.


I've agreed to meet him and possibly some officers from the City Council at
8pm at our clubhouse this Tuesday 16th Sept - St Matthews church hall in
Darley Abbey. It would be good if someone from other local clubs etc
could come along and let him know what your members thought and to show that
local clubs would be behind the project if it gets off the ground.

Anyone is welcome to turn up so if you know anyone with an interest please
invite them along.

We've got a 2 (sometimes 3) speed training ride at 6.40 (fast group off 5
minutes after) from the Little Chef at Little Eaton which ends up at the
clubhouse if anyone would like to combine the trip over with some training.

I should stress don't get too excited this is very early days but if we don't show we want this then any possibility is out the window.

I've emailed all local clubs but some of your contact emails from the BC site bounced.

Tom Butcher
Derby Merc

[Bimbadeen]

Tom I think that Tim Cooper would be a good person to come to a meeting if he can make it ,knows the back ground to lots of different approaches ..Dave Cockram should have knowledge as well BC

Ann Sturgess

[Tom Butcher]

Thanks - problem is that this is just a information gathering exercise at the moment before the sustrans guy has the meeting with BC and the city council. I wouldn't want to drag people any distance - having said that if anyone is a distance away but wants to have some input feel free to pm me or else I can give you the phone number of the guy and you can talk to him yourself. He's quite keen - he's going to visit a few tracks and circuits - but it really needs the city council to be equally keen.

[Hans Datdodishes]

[Tom Butcher]

He is,

Dave Clasby
Sustrans
11 Morledge, Derby DE1 2AW
Tel: 01332 242864
davec@sustrans.org.uk


not sure of his exact job title as he's just got a promotion - something like the BikeIt coordinator for the region.

[Hans Datdodishes]

First draft - would this do the job?

Dear Mr Clasby

Proposed New Cycling Facilities for Derby

I understand from Tom Butcher of Derby Mercury that you are currently exploring the possible provision of either a closed road circuit or velodrome within the Derby area.

I am writing on behalf of (insert club name here) – which currently has an active membership of x – to offer our full support towards the proposed venture. The East Midlands in general has suffered from a lack of facilities over the years, and at a time when cycling is booming in this country both as a sport and as a pastime we would love to see this shortfall in suitable venues addressed.

In our view the facility would benefit not only the cycling clubs in the East Midlands (and beyond), but would also give the wider community the chance to enjoy the positive experience of cycling in a safe, traffic free environment. Similar venues at x have a proven track record of use by schools and other community organisations. Given the recent success of the GB Olympic cycling team and the rising interest in the sport that the build-up to London 2012 will bring, we would expect the Derby facility to enjoy similar widespread use.

If I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours etc.

_________________
World Masters Drive HillClimb For Taureans Category C Champion 2013.

I'm a qualified coach.

[Hans Datdodishes]

RICK

I send Elaina a pm - I'm sure Guy has got some Ch Coureurs headed notepaper somewhere, this might carry more weight from an East Mids address (ie yours ) and I'll just post one as an individual - redrafting the odd paragraph.
Have fun tonight
_________________
World Masters Drive HillClimb For Taureans Category C Champion 2013.

I'm a qualified coach.

[Tom Butcher]

Good man Tim, as you've been involved in pushing for new facilities in the East Mids it might be worth giving Clasby a ring - he wont want to raise expectations (because he doesn't have funding to give out) but he's quite keen to put the case and if you have anything that would help him do that I'm sure he'd appreciate it.

[Tom Butcher]

Thanks to everyone that came - I'll report back anything I hear.

I think best thing is a letter just saying something along the lines of we think a track would be a good idea and it would be well used by kids and adults etc and then get all local clubs to put their names to it before circulating to relevant city council officers/members.

[Hans Datdodishes]

bounce.
Did this get anywhere?
_________________
World Masters Drive HillClimb For Taureans Category C Champion 2013.

I'm a qualified coach.

[Tom Butcher]

I'll speak to him about it next time I see him and report back.

[bagofspanners]

They used an old derelict site in Kent to place a number of different types of track onto 1 very good circuit.
It is used mid week (1 day i think) for multiple races and in the week for people training, or just leisure rides.
They hire bikes, shower facilities etc for all. Circuit has on road, off road, bmx, and road in 1 facility. There is also a caravan park next door but not sure if this is related.
Might be worth your guy talking to these fella's.

On the cost side to enter the track, The cost is £1 to park your car - the intent was to encourage people to be fit and active. Bike hire apx £8 per day i think!
Hope it helps and good luck
spanners

[Tom Butcher]

Spoke to him yesterday. He's had a pre meeting meeting with someone from a council dept to do with planning but so far been unable to secure an exact date for a meeting with the Chief Exec and other relevant parties such as Cycle Derby. I was under the impression this meeting was imminent when I made the original request but obviously not. When (and hopefully it is when not if) this meeting takes place I'll get him to report back as fully as I can.