The Green Action Trust (GAT) has announced that construction work has gotten underway on the development of a new bike pump track in Herbertshire Castle Park (also known as Gala Park) in Dunipace, Falkirk.

GAT is helping to deliver the new facility, in partnership with Community Green Initiative (CGI) and Falkirk Council.

Following a period of consultation and the securing of funding from Sport Scotland, Foundation Scotland, and Falkirk Council, planning approval was granted in September 2023. Construction work starts from 2nd October 2023 and is due to take four to six weeks to complete.

During this time we would ask all park users to stay safe by adhering to on site signage and staying away from the work site. The fencing will be removed once the track is safe to use.

A pump track is a circuit of rollers, banked turns and features designed to be ridden completely by riders "pumping"—generating momentum by up and down body movements, instead of pedalling or pushing. It was originally designed for the mountain bike and BMX scene, and now, due to concrete and 'sealed surface' constructions, can also be used with other wheeled equipment such as skateboards, scooters and accessible to wheelchairs (depending on the design).

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CGI and Falkirk Council worked for many years to care for, maintain and develop a Master Plan for the site, which is being used to guide work in the park. Following the successful delivery of a first phase of improvements in 2020, the pump track will add a significant new facility to the area.

Location

The pump track will be located in an area between 'The Chilli Hut' and the play park, bordering Barnego Road. Click the image below for a map of the location.

Velosolutions, the company engaged to design and build the pump track, carried out a consultation process in August/September 2022 to gather opinions from potential users on a draft design. Click on the image below to view the final design.

Commenting on the project, Councillor Paul Garner, Depute Leader of Falkirk Council said: "This will be a great asset for both Gala Park and our area as a whole. It has long been sought after by residents and the team at Community Green Initiative should accept a massive vote of thanks from all of us as well as the team in Falkirk Council that has helped deliver this project. Without the support of everyone involved to pull the project together, and the funding from Sport Scotland, Foundation Scotland and Falkirk Council, this project would not have been possible. We look forward to seeing it enjoyed by local people and visitors alike."

Forbes Dunlop, Chief Executive of sportscotland, said: "The Cycling Facilities Fund (CFF) was designed to deliver a network of accessible, community facilities across Scotland, creating opportunities for more people to get active in their local area. It's hugely encouraging to see the number of groups like Falkirk Council and the Green Action Trust who have grasped this opportunity to improve the lives of their local communities by investing in cycling facilities. This pump track will be a real asset and we look forward to seeing the dream become a reality."

Linda McConaghie, Operations Manager at the Green Action Trust said: "It's great to see the pump track at Gala Park starting construction, and we know the community will be excited to see it taking shape, and to see another element of the masterplan for the site coming together. Recreational use of greenspaces is a key component of our work within the Central Scotland Green Network, and we are very happy to continue to work with Falkirk Council to help deliver their objectives to benefit people and greenspaces."