View across BMX/Velodrome.                                             View across the East of the BMX/Velodrome.   

       
Clark & Kent forming the ramps and jumps                                                           View across the BMX Track.  

       
Stoning up to the Carpark extension                                      Reduced Level dig and stoning up to car park.

     
Attenuation tanks to the car park extension                             The commencement of the King Post Retention Scheme to the MUGA.

     
Works to the Horticultural Area.                                             Jump into Turn 1 on BMX Track.

    

   
These photos taken through a glass window with the sun shining brightly and reflecting on the window, but not able to go out on site due to equipment etc. but it does show that progress is being made.

Update

Knowsley’s Leisure and Culture Park on Longview Drive, Huyton, will open its doors to the public on Monday, 26 September 2011.

Building work is nearing completion with many aspects complete and currently being decorated:-

·         Swimming pools are now installed and tiling has commenced

·         Fitness suite is now almost complete

·         Treatment Rooms are being decorated and some rooms on the first floor have been finished

·         Performance / events / conference - the sports hall flooring is about to be installed and the performance equipment

·         will be installed shortly after, together with the seating

·         Dance studios are almost complete

·         Squash court flooring will soon be installed

·         Atrium with café will be progressing next month

In addition, work has commenced on the outdoor velodrome and BMX track.  This exciting new facility is due to open in December 2011. 

To take advantage of a range of pre-opening membership offers, speak to a member of our team on 443 2200.

New facility

The £16.1 million scheme - known as Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park – is part of a £25 million Leisure Facilities Strategy to be implemented across the borough.
 
This major investment will bring:

·         World-class sport and leisure facilities including an aquatic centre with two 25m swimming pools encompassing an 8 lane competition pool, 300 spectator seats, ramp access for disabled users, as well as a 6 court sports hall, fitness suite, squash court, spa facilities, dance studios and a café area.

·         State of art facilities to host sporting and cultural events including performances, pantomimes and award ceremonies.

·         Adult day care services, who offer a range of visits and activities for people with disabilities, will be based within the complex.

·         Improvements to not only the leisure provision in the area (which will also help to improve the health and wellbeing of our residents), but also to the local economy and employment opportunities within the borough.

·         Strengthen Knowsley’s growing international sporting links in the build up to the 2012 Olympics.

·         Realise potential, raise aspirations, attainment and skills.

In addition, the planning application included a £5 million OurPlace youth facility, for which a funding application has been submitted to Big Lottery Fund.  OurPlace has been developed in partnership with young people across the borough and will provide them with the facilities and services they want and need – IT, music and arts spaces, advice and wellbeing services, all housed in a welcoming and iconic new building, as well as an outdoor multi use games area, BMX and skateboarding facilities.  The centre will provide services for young people in a manner that suits them and in a place where they feel comfortable.  There will also be a range of opportunities to gain new skills through participation in activities and volunteering to help run the centre.

These new facilities will be located on the same campus as Huyton Arts and Sports Centre for Learning.  Together, these will form a wider Leisure and Culture Park campus which will transform the local environment and maximise leisure and culture opportunities.

The central location of the site makes it an ideal attraction for residents right across the borough.  Main access to the park will be via Longview Drive and car parking will be provided on site.  Pedestrian access will be available from Seel Road and Atlee Road.

Work will commence on-site in Spring 2010 and facilities are due to open in Autumn 2011.

We will continue to keep residents informed about next steps and the timescales involved in developing this scheme through our residents’ magazine ‘Knowsley News’, our website, local media and residents newsletters.

·         Slideshow of progress so far on the park's development

·         News about development of the Leisure and Culture Park

At a meeting on 2^nd June we were advised that unfortunately due to contractor issues the completion date will now be December 2011.

For clubs looking at planning their budget for 2012 and wanting to hire either the Velodrome or the BMX facility it has been agreed that the fee for coaching etc. will be £25 per hour.  Obviously more detailed information will be posted as and when it becomes available.

New BMX track & Velodrome in Knowsley.

Plans to build an outdoor Velodrome and BMX track for Knowsley have been approved.  The track will be constructed on the same site as the new Leisure and Culture Park on Longview Drive in Huyton and is funded through British Cycling Whole Sports Plan, NHS Knowsley, and others.

The Velodrome will be 400m in length, with a 7m wide cycle track.  The BMX track will be sited in the centre of the velodrome, only seen once before in Europe – Antwerp.

Work will commence on site at the end of April.  The new facility is due to be open later in 2011.

It is expected to attract in excess of 10,000 users every year and will host a range of local, regional and national cycling events.  It will also create an opportunity for Knowsley to form a new cycling club. A team consisting of KMBC officers, British Cycling, Merseyside Cycling Development, local cycling clubs & school representatives, have been meeting to develop a structure and constitution to implement this new club prior to the facility opening.

For further information on becoming part of the club, contact KMBC Sports Development on 0151 443 3111. 

For further information on the facility development contact Jon Roberts on 0151 443 3538.

The facilities will be located on Longview Drive, Huyton.  Facilities planned are a 400m outdoor Velodrome and a National standard BMX track, to be situated in the centre of the Velodrome.    

Planning permission for the project was granted from the Council's Planning Committee,.  The proposed date for completion of the cycling facilities is September 2011.    

Liverpool Century and Prescott Eagle, as clubs with bases in Knowsley, were invited to the meeting we had with the council in December.  Both clubs expressed interest in running coaching sessions on the proposed Velodrome.

In addition, it is hoped that new BMX club will be formed to lead on the BMX activities, drawing in as many local volunteers to run this as possible.  Interested in being part of this exciting new venture, contact Beryl Bowes at admin@merseysidecyclingdevelopment.org