Stow community pumped as new cycling opportunities get underway
The community of Stow is celebrating the go-ahead for a new pump track build in Stow Park which will generating a range of social, health, wellbeing and economic benefits in the area, particularly for children and young people.
A pump track is a purpose-built track for cycling, with a circuit of rollers, banked turns and other features. They are suitable for small-wheeled children’s bikes, scooters, BMX and mountain bikes and can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.
Background
Plans for the track have been in the pipeline since 2019, but all planning requirements are now in place and the build started on the 9th September. PIctured above is the site selected for the pump track and below is the site as work is just beginning.
The plans have been driven by the Stow Community Trust, a community based, not for profit organisation, made up of local people keen to see the development of assets in the village and surrounding area for the common good.
Established in September 2009, with the intention of developing Stow Station House, a bar/kitchen with meetings spaces for community groups, the work of the Trust is primarily project based and involves close partnerships with other community organisations and statutory groups.
Stow Community Trust also ‘incubates’ groups and projects emerging from community consultation and development priorities, and this includes the pump track. Their sub group, the Stow Pump Track Group, was formed early on to see the project through to fruition.
The pump track aligns with The Trust’s wider activities to establish a cycling hub in the Station House, develop cycling locally, support greater participation in cycling amongst the local population of all ages and generally enhance participation of younger residents in community activities. The pump track will also help support the shop, Café, book shop and sense of Stow as a visitor destination more broadly.
Project Support
Many of Stow Community Trust’s projects to date have received grants from EDF Renewables Longpark Wind Farm Community Fund, which is administered by Foundation Scotland.
The pump track project has received £40,000 funding from EDF Longpark Community Fund, as well as further funds from SSE Toddleburn, Sport Scotland and Scottish Borders Council's Place Based Investment Fund.
Impact
As a rural community, Stow has comparatively limited opportunities for social activities for young people and the pump track, alongside other community activity developments, offers sporting opportunities that local children can access, with the potential to attract visitors and associated visitor spend into Stow.
The pump track is suitable for children and adults alike and will yield significant health, wellbeing and social benefits.
Plans for coaching activities (via both a Pump Track Club and partnerships with schools, nurseries and Lauder Cycling Club) will boost interest and cycling/maintenance skills amongst young people.
The Pump Track will contribute to the wider ambition to further develop the network of cycling opportunities available in the Gala Water area. There is already interest from families in Heriot, Clovenford, Oxton and Lauder, helping to encourage visitor footfall and associated spend. The Pump Track also therefore helps support local businesses and the sense of Stow as a visitor destination more broadly.
Stow Community Trust believes that the whole community of Stow (1,000 residents) will benefit in some way from the amenity. Around 20% of the population are young people, and they will form the majority of direct beneficiaries, although overall beneficiary numbers will grow over time as new generations use the facility. An online survey in November 2020 showed that 153 young males (U16), 66 young females (U16), 16 adult males and 47 adult females would anticipate using the track weekly.
Leonie Cairns, spokesperson for Stow Community Trust, said:
It's fantastic to see this project reach this stage. It builds on the great work of the Stow Cycle Hub, which has done an amazing job in promoting cycling across the community in recent years. The location of the pump track is ideal -right in the park, at the heart of the village. It will offer a safe space for both young and old to have fun while developing their cycling skills. Given the challenges we face with the A7 running through our village, the importance of this safe space cannot be overstated.
Susan Velasquez, Asset Manager for Longpark Wind Farm said:
We are absolutely delighted for the Stow Community for bringing this pump track project to life with support from our Longpark Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund. We know how much work goes into these projects behind the scenes and also the positive impact these outdoor spaces have on places so it really is a privilege for us to play a small part in it. We wish the community the best of luck for the remainder of the project once first ground is broken.
Malcolm Jack, Community Funds Manager with Foundation Scotland said:
Foundation Scotland is delighted to see the perseverance of some extremely dedicated volunteers rewarded with the start of this exciting pump track construction which will benefit Stow's young people for years to come. The EDF Renewables Longpark Wind Farm Community Fund, which we administer, played a vital role, awarding £8,000 back in 2020 for feasibility work and £40,000 more recently towards the actual build. This helped leverage match funding from a range of other sources, making the Pump Track a reality. We can't wait to see it in action.
Read more about EDF Renewables Longpark Wind Farm Community Fund here.