Pateley Bridge Town Council is considering the installation of a pump track.

A pump track is a hard-surfaced circuit that uses the natural bumps and bends in the land to help cyclists and scooter riders generate momentum, would replace the existing BMX track on Millennium Green.

Local resident Will Askew put the idea to the council during September’s meeting – adding he would be “happy to project lead” if it came to fruition.

Suzanne Smith, clerk to the council, said:

“Councillors feel the best first step is the feasibility study to ensure that the whole project is viable. As there is already a BMX track there, hopefully it will be.”

A survey would then be sent to local residents to see if there is sufficient demand for the track.

Wetherby pump track

As the sole trustee of the Pateley Bridge Millennium Green Trust — the charity that manages the land — the council would need to raise money to fund the project.

Mr Askew told the council it could cost anywhere between £30,000 to £50,000, but grants and funding may be available.

North Yorkshire Council recently announced a pump track could also be installed in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens.

The track, which could be installed by April, would replace the existing pitch and putt golf course.

The council is running a six-week consultation on the project until November 30.

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Further details of the proposed new bike track in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens have been revealed.

North Yorkshire Council is running a six-week consultation on whether to replace the nine-hole pitch and putt course with a pump track.

Pump tracks use bumps and bends in the land to allow cyclists and scooter riders to generate momentum.

The consultation says the “new facility would be approximately 2,000 square metres”.

However, the council has now said the track itself wouldn’t be this size, and much of the pitch and putt course would be returned to grassland.

A council spokesperson said the track, which would cost £2,000, is likely to be similar in size to the one in Wetherby, which is shown below and in the main image. It could be open by April.

A council spokesperson said:

“It is a small beginners track that would be made of compacted hardcore.

“It would be 1 to 1.5 metres wide and will be based in a circular shape.

“The pump track is aimed at beginners to complement the existing skate park that attracts older and more competent children.

“It is not going to cover the whole area of the pitch and putt, only a smaller area where holes one to nine are. The frisbee golf is staying.”

Asked what would happen to the remainder of the pitch and putt area, the spokesperson added:

“The whole pitch and putt course would be closed and the remainder would be returned to normal parkland.”

Karl Battersby, the council’s corporate director for environment, previously said:

“The track proposed would have gentle slopes, curves and bumps, be accessible all year, and replace the existing nine-hole pitch and putt golf course.”

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• New bike track could be in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens by April

A bike track for young people in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens could be installed by April next year, according to North Yorkshire Council.

The council is running a six-week consultation on whether to replace the nine-hole pitch and putt golf course with a pump track, which cyclists and scooter riders navigate using the natural bumps and bends in the land to generate momentum.

The track, which would take up 2,000 square metres, would be free to use and provide an additional activity for children aged up to 10.

Karl Battersby, the council’s corporate director for environment, said:

“We are running a six-week consultation to see what people think of the idea of a free of charge compressed hardcore beginner’s pump track as an addition to our popular Valley Gardens.

“The track proposed would have gentle slopes, curves and bumps, be accessible all year, and replace the existing nine-hole pitch and putt golf course.”

‘Significant drop’ in golfing

The track would signal the end of pitch and putt in Valley Gardens.

Mr Battersby said:

“The decision to look at closing the golf course has been made for numerous reasons including a significant drop in people using it over the last 10 years, despite attempts to increase popularity by reducing it from 18 holes to nine, introducing season tickets and working with schools.

“Equally, unpredictable weather and natural springs creates sloping wet land making it unsuitable for golf for a large portion of the year.

“We do not want to close an activity in the gardens without replacing it and a pump track would lend itself to the existing slopes and bumps in this area. We are always looking to enhance our parks and the proposed track would also work alongside promoting nature and wildlife as we would also plant more trees and longer grass areas.

“If there is support we hope the track, which would be installed the council’s parks team, could be in place by April next year.”

Cllr Sam Gibbs, a Conservative who represents Valley Gardens and Central Harrogate on the council, welcomed the proposal.

He said:

“I’m supportive of schemes that bring more visitors into the Valley Gardens and supportive of activities for young people.

“I’m also keen the views of other local people, community groups, such as the Friends of Valley Gardens and others who use the park on a regular basis are taken into account and have encouraged many to take part in the consultation.

“From speaking with people in the gardens, most seemed supportive. Nobody I spoke to used the golf facilities although some did raise concerns around safety of participants and whether the area would be fenced off.”

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• Bike track could replace pitch and putt course in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens
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The pitch and putt course in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens.could be replaced with a bike track for young people.

North Yorkshire Council is conducting a survey on installing a pump track in place of the nine-hole course.

A pump track is a hard-surfaced circuit designed for bikes and scooters which uses the natural bumps and bends in the land to generate momentum.

The council said the track, which would take up 2,000 square metres. would provide an additional activity for children up the age of 10 years.

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The pitch and putt course costs £5.50 for adults and £3.50 for concessions and closes in winter.

If the pump track goes ahead, it would be the first of its kind in the Harrogate district.

The survey runs until November 30. The council has yet to give any details on what will happen then.

Pateley Bridge Town Council is also considering the installation of a pump track in the town, following a suggestion at September’s meeting. However, a decision has not been made yet.