Work starts on Pendle’s Steven Burke Sports Hub

Work has this week begun on Pendle’s big, exciting new cycle track which will be named after the borough’s own Olympic medallist, Steven Burke.
By The Newsroom
Published 15th Jan 2014, 14:03 BST
Steven Burke performs the sod cutting ceremony to mark the start of work on the new Cycle Track at Swinden Playing Fields in Nelson. Photo Ben ParsonsSteven Burke performs the sod cutting ceremony to mark the start of work on the new Cycle Track at Swinden Playing Fields in Nelson. Photo Ben Parsons
Steven Burke performs the sod cutting ceremony to mark the start of work on the new Cycle Track at Swinden Playing Fields in Nelson. Photo Ben Parsons

And lots of people are excited about the fact it is happening. Some went along on Wednesday to mark the start – including Steven!

The project, funded at almost half a million pounds, is around Nelson’s Swinden Playing Fields. It is also close to both Barrowford and Colne, too. And it will be named as Steven Burke Sports Hub.

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At the celebration of the launch, Steven Burke said: “It’s great to be seeing something being built which is named after me! It’s good for the local area and it will be great to see young riders going round it.”

Steven Burke performs the sod cutting ceremony to mark the start of work on the new Cycle Track at Swinden Playing Fields in Nelson. Photo Ben ParsonsSteven Burke performs the sod cutting ceremony to mark the start of work on the new Cycle Track at Swinden Playing Fields in Nelson. Photo Ben Parsons
Steven Burke performs the sod cutting ceremony to mark the start of work on the new Cycle Track at Swinden Playing Fields in Nelson. Photo Ben Parsons

And he said it would be a great opportunity for people round here to develop as competition riders, too.

The work is being carried out by Pendle firm Monk of Colne Ltd.

At the launch event there were representatives from Pendle Council, Pendle Leisure and Cycle Sport Pendle.

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Mr Peter Boast from CSP said: “I’m delighted to see it happening. It has been a five-year project and has just come together very quickly in the last six months. It’s an ‘eight week’ project – perhaps possibly delayed by winter weather – and the pavilion will be worked on later to give it a complete restoration.”

Also at the event was Mr Alan Ramsbottom, who took part in the Tour de France back in 1962, then went into marathons including the first-ever London Marathon. He said: “It’s brilliant here –I’m looking forward to it opening and going round it myself!”

So hopefully my March the Steven Burke Sports Hub should be pretty complete and soon will be in use by bike riders from across the area.

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