Cycling enthusiast 'wheelie' wants BMX track in Jersey

Thursday 20 July 2017

A local cyclist is pushing ahead with plans for a BMX track in Jersey, after receiving what he describes as fantastic feedback to an online survey about the project.

Marc Le Sueur has been studying track options and costs for the new facility, which he says will benefit children and adults of all ages, as well as the Island as a whole.

Mr Le Sueur decided to see if anyone else shared his opinion and conducted an online survey. He told Express: "The sport had disappeared a bit from the forefront but has been having some sort of resurgence since the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics. We have great facilities on the island but when it comes to BMX, people have to travel to France or even the UK. But there are a number of people who currently sit outside of the current cycling facilities that will almost certainly use a BMX track."

Pictured: Mr Le Sueur conducted an online survey to gauge how many people would be interested in a BMX track.

A cycling coach for the Jersey Cycling Association, Mr Le Sueur says costs could be between £12.000 to £85.000 depending on the type of track.

His proposal states: "Our goal is to reach as many young people as possible and provide them with a healthy and positive “alternative” activity that will allow for individual and family growth through the sport of BMX racing in the Jersey.

"Our community is an ideal setting for a BMX track because of the high number of families with children under the age of 19. It would also be the only track within the Channel Islands. With this strong demographic being embedded in the community, and the possibility of attracting additional members from the other Islands, we believe that a BMX track will be highly successful with children and adults of all ages."

Pictured: The cycling enthusiast argues that a BMX track could be fun for all ages.

He plans to have the track as a permanent outdoor facility - although he says an indoor one, open all year round, would be a "dream"- open to all public users during daytime, free of charge. He would also like to see organized and sanctioned Jersey BMX Racing Association events take place twice a week: one race event and one practice, as is "typical for most BMX tracks across the UK."

If successful, it wouldn't be the first time Jersey had welcomed a BMX track. According to the proposal, the Island had "fantastic facilities in the early eighties before the requirement for further housing took over and the emergence of new sports." But in order for it to be brought back, there is still much work to be done.

Pictured: Could a new generation of islanders be inspired to learn tricks like this?

Mr Le Sueur says the first step will be to see if any cycling club will be involved or if a new one will have to be created. He will be presenting his project to a local association in the next couple of weeks and hopes to convince them to get on board.

While he is convinced of the benefits of such a facility - his own four-year-old son is said to be keen to use a local track - Mr Le Sueur says that finances might be a drawback. "I can't see why a club wouldn't back the project apart from the investment point of view. But I always say if you have to spend money, you better do it properly, and I really think this would be an amazing thing to invest money in.

Pictured: If built, Jersey's BMX track would be the first in the Channel Islands and would save local enthusiast the need to travel to the UK or France.

Once funding has been secured, it will be time to submit planning permissions. Mr Le Sueur hopes to secure a "suitable location" with plenty of parking around to facilitate access to the venue. An professional track builder will also need to be recruited to make a risk assessment and a survey on the land is done. "The discipline is quite regulated, you can't just turn up and build a track," he explained.