Paxcroft Mead BMX Track

Paxcroft Mead Community Forum is proposing to build a BMX track for older kids on the edge of the park. This project is not something that will happen over night; we are still in the early stages of planning and identifying possible funding.

There was a short presentation at the Forum AGM in May and legitimate concerns were raised by some of the members in attendance. This web page is designed to explain the thinking behind our plans and invite members to respond with their comments and concerns.

The idea is that members should read through the questions and answers and send in their comments through the contacts page, whether registering concerns or support.

The consultation will continue until Sunday November 7th, which is one week before the next Forum Committee meeting. This will give us time to collate all the comments so that we can discuss how to proceed.

What is a BMX track?

The BMX track will be a fenced, landscaped area featuring a looped race track of beaten earth with mounds, dips and turns designed to challenge young cycle riders.

Who would build the track?

A firm of specialist BMX track builders.

Won't this attract more young moped riders onto the estate?

The BMX track is a facility for cycle riders only.  It will be fenced and gated in such a way that mopeds and motor-bikes are kept out.

Would I have to buy a BMX bike to be able to use the track?

There is no need to have a special bike to use the track - any kind of bicycle will be suitable.

What about a skate park?

This is an attractive option but it is several times more costly than a BMX, since it involves concrete and metal in its construction.  We are planning to include a Double-U Bend, which would be suitable for skate boards.

Where did this idea come from?

One of the key issues to come out of the inaugural meeting of the Forum last October was the lack of activities or facilities for older kids on the estate. There is an ongoing problem with anti-social behaviour from older kids.  The meeting felt that these circumstances were linked.

One person came along to the meeting with the express purpose of urging the committee to do something about this and was elected onto the committee on this basis.  Adrian Ingham had recently been involved in a successful project to build a BMX track in Lambrok Road in Trowbridge.

The committee went with the idea of a project which is reasonably priced, realistic and attractive to its target audience.  Adrian has been working hard since then, meeting with council officers, councillors and local agencies.

Why should we reward anti-social behaviour?

The large majority of kids are good-natured, but with nowhere to go and nothing to do, they are more susceptible to negative influences.  The Neighbourhood Police Team say that the incidence of anti-social behaviour on Paxcroft Mead is quite low compared to other local areas, even though the estate does attract kids from outside the estate.  Their recent experience shows that when they can isolate the ring leaders, any trouble-making quickly evaporates.

Surely what is needed is a proper youth club?

There is a weekly youth club in the community centre, which is run by one of the local churches.

How will a BMX track be a solution? It would only be attractive to kids who like bikes.

The BMX track would certainly provide an exciting activity and spectacle for kids of all ages who are into cycles and skate boards.

What it would also offer to older kids is a space where they can meet and hang out together without impacting on other residents. The plan is to have a covered area with benches to provide a space that is welcoming and attractive for informal groups.  In this way, although it is an outdoor facility, the BMX track would offer some of the benefits of a youth club.  In addition, it would not be constrained by opening times.

Isn't it likely that a BMX track will exacerbate the problem by attracting more young people from other areas?

The local Neighbourhood Police Teams tell us that there are already kids coming into the estate from other areas and they don't think that a BMX track would significantly add to the number.

They do say, however, that to have a facility which would attract them to one area would be very helpful to the police.  It would be a valid location for them to move groups onto and it would help them to locate trouble makers.

What about the younger kids who are into BMX and skate boards? Won't they be intimidated by the older kids?

The BMX track will be open for everyone to use, but the different age groups will tend to use it at different times - younger kids in the afternoon and older kids in the evening, adults and families at weekends.  As with any other public play facility, parents should make sure that their children always have a friend to go with for safety and confidence.

Have you considered other ideas, for example a skate park, or specialised equipment in the existing playground?"

These ideas have been considered. A skate park would be very attractive to older kids, but it is several times more expensive to build than a BMX track, which only involves earth-moving.
To extend the existing playground with specialised equipment for older kids would also be much more costly, while the BMX track would have the advantage of attracting older kids away from where the younger ones were playing.

Where would the BMX track be sited?

The plan is to site the BMX track in the nearest corner of the field behind the Community Centre.  The track would be fenced with a gate opening off the the section of Hackett Place leading to the Mead Primary School.

This is close to the Community Centre and Nursery - how would they be affected?

The Management Committee of the Community Centre have been consulted and support the plan, which they feel will take kids away from the District Centre and give them a positive activity and a meeting area away from the shops and community centre.
The Nursery has been consulted and they see no problem with the plan.  Their premises are very secure and they do not anticipate any problems.

This is close to the playground where the younger children play – wouldn't they be exposed to undesirable influences?

The side of the BMX which would be facing the playground would be completely fenced and any view of the track could be readily mitigated with landscaping and planting.  The gate giving access to the track would be in the furthest corner away from the playground, with the covered seating also on that side, so the natural focus from inside the track would be away from the playground.

What about the existing users of the field, e.g. the children's football teams on a Saturday?

We are keen to consult with any other users and to minimise the impact on their activities.

Wasn't this area always intended to be a cricket field?

This may well be the case, but as far as we know it has never been used for this purpose.

This area is carefully landscaped into a bowl shape, won't this plan spoil that?

The plans would include a sympathetic reconstruction of the bowl into an oval.
In addition, the BMX track would be constructed so that the area could be entirely restored to its original appearance, if it were to be removed at a later date.

Have you considered any other possible sites?

We have considered other sites, but this site has particular advantages.  Being on the edge of the park, it is on the regular patrol route of the Neighbourhood Police Team and is easily visible to them.
This position makes it readily accessible to the emergency services in the case of accidents.  It is also close enough to the road and to the shop to make it easily accessible and attractive to its target audience.

What about the residents of the new housing being built nearby?

Residents of this new housing will be moving into an area close to an existing playing field and will therefore be expecting the levels of noise and disturbance associated with regular sporting activity.  Noise and disturbance from the BMX track would be no louder than an organised children's football match or a rugby team practice, so it should not be a problem.

If there is money available why don't we do something else with it entirely?

This isn't a response to an available pot of money.  The funding would be specific to this particular project.  Once we can demonstrate that we have a viable plan, which has general support, we can approach charitable agencies for funding.  If you have an idea for a project which would benefit the community of Paxcroft Mead and you want to work on, we would love to hear from you.

Updated by Rosemary on April 16 2011  •