March 25, 2009
PARALYMPIC STAR AND MP BACK NEW SPORTS TRACK
Double Paralympic gold medal winner David Stone joined MP John Healey in opening a new BMX Track in Brampton Bierlow on Friday.
Barclays have put £50,000 into building the new track and starter ramp in Bierlow Park, with support from Groundwork UK.
Local people have had to wait for its arrival after the new track was severely damaged in the floods back in 2007.
Mr Healey said: “This was a run-down bit of open space with some football posts and two broken swings. It is totally transformed now with a multi-use games area, a brand new adventure playground about to open and a large BMX track which is going to be a focus for all sorts of activities like riding and mechanics courses.
“This is the result of a combination of efforts by the parish council, who have been determined to see something done with this area for children and young people, Groundwork Dearne Valley, who are experts at this kind of environmental regeneration, and Barclays, who have not only contributed £50,000 to setting the track up but also £20,000 towards it being properly managed and maintained.
“Police say it is already having a good impact in the area, giving children and young people somewhere to go and something to do.
“Paralympian David Stone was an inspiration to everybody. He first had the chance to start cycling on an old fashioned BMX track and with hard work eventually made it to Beijing and two gold medals.”
Cyclist David Stone showed off his bicycle and the two gold medals he won at the Paralympic Games in Beijing last summer and local youngsters took part in cycling activities including races.
Mr Stone said: “This will be a major benefit to the local community, and especially young people, giving them a great opportunity to try BMX, have fun and keep fit.”
The site is part of the Barclays Spaces for Sports initiative which has created 200 sites across the UK since 2004, giving over half a million disadvantaged people the opportunity to benefit from sport.
Lee Cartwright, Rotherham Branch Manager for Barclays, said: “Barclays believes that sport has a key role to play in revitalising our communities and sites like this one in Brampton Bierlow are central to this. The new site will make BMX biking more accessible and encourage a new wave of participants to enjoy the facilities on offer.”
Tony Hawkhead, Chief Executive at Groundwork, said: “Not only will this site provide a local resource for young people and adults to boost their health and fitness, it will also provide a focal point for members of different communities to interact and come together. By investing in sports at grassroots level Barclays Spaces for Sports is also helping to build stronger neighbourhoods.”
The new site has also been fully supported by Brampton Bierlow Parish Council and Councillor Audrey Hart, Chair of the Parish Council, said: “I would like to thank Barclays for their financial support to the BMX track which was already a big hit with local riders, and which will be the base of a range of cycling activities planned for the whole community this year.”