Plans for Closed Road Cycling Circuit move up a gear

Plans for Closed Road Cycling Circuit move up a gear

EXCITING plans to develop a Closed Road Cycling Circuit at Pembrey Country Park have moved up a gear.

Members of the public and interested parties are being asked to give their views and contribute to the proposals as part of a pre-planning consultation exercise.

The council has allocated capital funding of £500,000 towards the purpose-built track, with support from Welsh Cycling and Sport Wales.

It will provide a traffic free environment for coaching and training and will be used to stage competitive cycling competitions and recreational activities.

The circuit will be of British cycling standard, and will be the best in Wales – if not the UK – attracting local, regional and national events, races and training camps.

It is good news for local cycling clubs as well as the wider west Wales region and will also will further boost Pembrey Country Park with an additional income of over £25,000 a year expected via entrance fees, caravan and camping stays and secondary spend.

People will be able to have their say on the proposals from December 1 – 31 online or at Llanelli Library where hard copies of the plans and supporting documents will be available. The library is open 9am – 7pm Monday and Thursday, 9am – 6pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, and 9am – 5pm Saturdays (closed Sundays).

Executive Board Member for Culture, Sport and Tourism Cllr Peter Hughes-Griffiths said: “This is a very exciting project, the track – the second only in Wales – will be a valuable asset for the community and for the development of cycling in Carmarthenshire, west Wales and nationally.

“It will support the development of both local clubs and those further afield and can also be used for other sports, such as athletics and triathlon.

“Here in Carmarthenshire, it is our ambition to become the cycling hub of Wales. The council’s draft cycling strategy sets out its objectives to improve infrastructure, develop opportunities, particularly for young people, and support events and the closed circuit ticks all these boxes.

“Finally, the facility will also help to boost our already growing tourism economy attracting yet more people to the county who will stay and spend in the area.”