A BMX Track in Platt Fields
This page contains information regarding the recently accepted planning application for a BMX Track in Platt Fields Park. Whilst opinions on the application have varied within the Friends (as can be seen on the comments page) this page is merely intended to inform readers regarding the plans for the track.
Update (16/03/2007): We have been advised that following the planning application meeting on the 15th March, the Planning Application for the BMX Track has been approved.
All the track plans and questions and answers will be available to view in the Lakeside Centre to look at between 09:00 and 16:00, Monday to Friday.
We would be interested in any comments you may have regarding both the intended facility and this information. Please get in touch using the form on the contact us page.
Thank you.
The Site
The intended site is given on the application as "Disused Tennis Courts/Kickabout Area". It includes the old fenced area that hasn't been used for five years as well as some field space directly south of that fenced area, which currently contains a small pair of goalposts. The area suffers from poor drainage, so a soakaway features on the plans, which also include the planting of some trees and shrubs between the proposed site and the housing south of the park.Area Map
nb The satellite image is out of date (eg The skate park had not been built when this was taken).The map may not work in some older browsers. If you cannot see the map please visit this page for information.
Site Photo
(Click to open larger image);)
Site Plans
This is an external link to the formal site plan, including photos of fences and buildings:Site Plan >> (pdf document)
The Track
The planning application by the Leisure Department of Manchester City Council includes the following:"Construction of a BMX track including the erection of a 2.4 metre high weld mesh fence and provision of 2 portable containers to form office and store, construction of a hardstanding area for spectator seating, creation of a new pedestrian footpath and associated landscaping including remodelling of existing earth mound. Erection of 6 floodlighting columns."
The financial support is not coming from park allocated funds and is therefore not money that could have been spent on other areas of the park.
Inside the fencing the track will look rather like a twisting snake that curves through the grass. It will be made of limestone and will rise and dip to give the bumps that bikers race round and over, which enables them to do jumps and stunts. All around the track will be grass.
The hard surface for seating is designed so that temporary seating banks may be erected when larger audiences are expected (only a few times a year.) This seating will be brought in – Manchester Leisure owns it and it is use in different places. It will not be there all the time. Two steel cabin will be for storage and changing space/a toilet.
Electricity and water will be brought to this area of the park, which will be extremely useful for use at other events (as it will avoid the need to hire in noisy diesel generators).
You can also view Manchester City Council's:
Design and Access Statement >> (pdf document)
Find Out More
The Preston Pirates Website >>This website was created by users of the Preston BMX Track, and contains some pictures of the track in use, which give a good idea of how the Manchester track could look (and is where the pictures for this page came from!).
The British Cycling BMX Page >>
Some good basic information regarding BMX racing.
North Region BMX >>
News and pictures from other BMX clubs in the Northern England.