The charity would like to extend a huge thanks to everyone who came to the Celebration Event on Monday, 15 September.
Although the weather wasn’t entirely on our side – with strong winds and an amber warning in place earlier in the day – the rain thankfully held off during the event.
Despite the conditions, we had a fantastic turn out. Children, tweens, teenagers, parents and grandparents all coming together show their support and enthusiasm for a pump track in Histon & Impington. The enthusiasm from young attendees was truly infectious; one young boy even brought a handmade sign board to express his hopes for a track.
As part of our “Bling Your Bike” activity, many attendees raided their fabric stashes or Christmas boxes to decorate their cycles with ribbons, tinsel, and fairy lights. Councillor Sarah Allen captured the mood perfectly:
What a warm welcome on a cold and windy evening! It was lovely arriving at our meeting to be greeted with so many young smiles and bikes decorated with ribbons and tinsel!
Younger visitors enjoyed riding their scooters and bikes around the car park, in line with local bylaws prohibiting wheeled sports on the Recreation Ground. It was heartwarming to see new friendships forming—even during this short, 45-minute event—offering just a glimpse of the community connection a permanent pump track could foster.
Local mum Kate Bunting shared:
Thank you for organising! My family enjoyed chatting to councillors and it was great to see the kids enjoying riding their bikes together, even if it can only be in a car park – for now. Here’s to moving forward soon with discussions for a viable location.
The wide variety of wheeled rides at the event showed the versatility a pump track could support—BMX bikes, scooters, skateboards, and even a longboard were on display. Pro-rider Matt Priest, who grew up in Histon & Impington, was on hand to give riding tips and share his insights on building BMX and pump tracks.
We were pleased to welcome many councillors and members of the public on their way to the Parish’s Full Council Meeting in the Community Room. Thank you especially to those councillors—Parish, County, and District—who took the time to stop, chat, and engage in thoughtful conversations with attendees.
Councillor Sarah Smith said:
It was great to meet the children and young people that came along before Monday’s Parish Council meeting to advocate for a pump track, and to hear all of their comments and ideas. It was very clear how excited they are by the prospect of this new facility for our villages and I am looking forward to collaborating with the Pump Track Charity and the community to help make it happen.
The positive impact of the event continued into the Council meeting. Parish Chair Yvonne Murray reflected:
It was wonderful yesterday to see so many families — children, parents, and grandparents — gathered at Histon & Impington Recreation Ground with such positive and determined spirit, welcoming Council members to our Full Council meeting.
Many came to share their hopes for a Pump Track, asking thoughtful questions and clearly expressing the need for this kind of facility in our village.
A heartfelt contribution during Public Participation added to the momentum, calling for the Pump Track to be a project of unity and joy.
The meeting reminded me why I joined the Parish Council — to represent and respond to the aspirations of our community.
I hope we continue to receive the kind of welcome and open dialogue that greeted us at the entrance and carried through the evening.
Thank you to everyone who braved the weather and shared your ideas. Your presence made a real impact.
We hope councillors and council staff saw that a pump track isn’t solely a source of concern, but a source of joy. There is real community positivity around creating a safe, welcoming space for cycling, scootering, and skateboarding. A place where young people can have fun without judgment.
Smiling faces and shared laughter—an antidote to the negativity of recent meetings.