Our Co-Chair Tom McKeown attended the Parish Council’s Well-being, Recriation and Leisure Committee’s meeting on 25 November 2024 to speak in the Public Participation item. He was seeking assurance from the Council over investigation of Parish Council sites to host a pump track. Following our recommendation to consider Homefield Park and Manor Park, and the Councils decision to further include the Recreation Ground into consideration at a previous Full Council meeting.
I speak today as the Co-Chair of the Histon and Impington Pump Track Charity.
I am concerned with the language used by the Well-being, Recreation and Leisure committee at the Full Council meeting on 21 October and reported by Hi-Hub on 21 November. Reconsideration of the Recreation ground to host a Pump Track is welcome, however “noting the high level of opposition to the other sites” appears to ignore the support for these sites.
There is support for a pump track within the village, most recently demonstrated by the Hi Pump Track charity’s survey. Though also within two previous surveys conducted by the Parish Council. The Pump Track Charity’s survey also shows support for a track at a number of locations in addition to the Recreation Ground. Have members of the committee read this report?
Choosing a location for a pump track was always going to be the hardest part of this project. While the question of the Recreation Ground is a ‘maybe’ the project is held in limbo. Can the committee give any clarity on their position for hosting a pump track within the Recreation Ground? Can we start design work for a track on the Recreation Ground, or talk in earnest about the feasibility of other Parish Council locations?
As things currently stand, we risk losing this opportunity for another generation of young people. I should not need to remind this committee that although they pay no precept, nor vote for your positions, they are a valued part of this community. Not every young person will be engaged by the organised offerings of the Football, Cricket or Tennis teams. A free to use, no requirement to book facility such as the pump track will be a huge benefit for many of them. I should know, I was one of them.
The Council’s response is documented in the meeting minutes published December 12 2024.
Resident spoke re Pump Track Charity. Questions asked of the Committee as follows:
Had members read the Pump Track Charity’s report; can the Committee give clarity on
their position for hosting a Pump Track within the Recreation Ground; does the
Committee recognise the value of a pump track to diversify the leisure offering to young
people; does the Committee recognise the support for a pump track from the parish’s
own surveys; Can the committee give clarity on their position for hosting a track within
the Recreation Ground or give a timetable for reaching this decision? Resident
expressed concerns over missing a potential opportunity to provide facilities for a
generation of young people by not acting quickly.
As the Pump Track was raised during public participation, Cllr Stonham declared an
interest as Trustee of the Pump Track Charity, although there was not a specific item on
the agenda.
Further discussion as follows:
- Cllr Hobbs expressed his opinion that he agreed there was a high level of support for the project.
- Cllr Hobbs explained that the original request for the surveyor looking at possible plans for the Recreation Ground from the Recreation Development Group (RDG) had not prioritised the pump track; it had been considered but in their plans would have been difficult to locate without losing some facilities
- Cllr Davies stated that he personally agreed that a pump track would be of benefit to the community, and understood the request for a speedy resolution.
- Cllr Davies expressed his opinion that he considered that the project should be a Parish Council project which could be owned and driven by the Parish Council, working alongside members of the Pump Track Charity. RFO reiterated no such decision had been taken by Council.
- Cllr Davies outlined that he would recommend to the RDG that they now reconsider options at the Recreation Ground in light of various new factors which included the future use of 12 New Road, and that this should include a review of the possibility of a pump track on the site.
- Cllr Davies, Cllr Hobbs, Cllr Wilbraham, Cllr Carrington and RFO had met with Wilby and Burnett and outlined the changes in priorities that had recently occurred, including areas such as parking issues, uses for the property at 12 New Road, and at this meeting it was suggested a Pump Track should also now be considered. Wilby and Burnett were requested to produce a new fee quotation for this design work, to be brought to a future Full Council meeting for approval.
- Cllr Hobbs reiterated no decisions would be made by Council without consultation with all residents, and that nothing had changed from the Full Council decision.
- Cllr Allen noted a recent survey from Cambridge City looking at sporting facilities and requirements by young people and suggested this should be referred to for information.
The RFO reminded attendees that there was no specific item on the agenda regarding
the Pump track and that there would therefore be no decision made at this meeting.
The charity will continue to press the Parish Council for a position on the locations they lease or own.