Major velodrome sports site may yet see light of day at Tornagrain
The new town between Inverness and Nairn is among a shortlist of potential sites proposed for a new velodrome.
But Highland Council has refused to finance a further feasibility study, having contributed to the £150,000 consultancy report into such a project two years ago.
A council sub-committee was yesterday expected to rubber stamp a decision to refuse a £4014 grant for the Highland Velodrome Trust – which would have helped fund “feasibility and pre-funding work” at the new site – after ruling it was too far outside the city to justify any common good fund cash.
Undeterred, cycling enthusiasts have been scouting Inverness and the surrounding countryside for an alternative venue to Bught Park, which was the initial preferred site for a velodrome and multi-sport and music venue.
The trust remains upbeat, speaking of “an announcement” in the coming months about its next plan for a velodrome facility.
Yesterday’s city committee meeting in Inverness was told that Tornagrain was the trust’s new favoured location and, because that is beyond the city boundary “it was not clear what the benefit would be to the city.” It was, therefore, decided to refuse the funding request.
The Bught Park idea evolved into a council-conceived vision for a £23 million “Highland Arena” featuring a cycle track, sprint track, other athletics facilities and gymnastics, judo and tennis areas plus a 3000-capacity events venue.
It was to be offset by a wide range of financing, from public agencies and the EU to charities, private businesses and individuals.
It was ultimately thwarted due to budget constraints on the council.
The trust hoped for a £7 million council investment to consolidate other funding from sports and development organisations in its quest to raise a total of £23 million for the project.
Financially challenged councillors refused to add it to the local authority’s five-year capital budget plan.
Trust secretary Mike Greaves was playing his cards close to his chest this week for reasons of commercial confidentiality but confirmed that the proposal remained “substantial”.
He said: “As an organisation, we exist to try to bring improved cycling facilities to Inverness and the wider Highlands.
“On top of the council’s project being discontinued, we’re taking another look at this, looking at what sort of project in what location, with what partners, and we hope to make a public announcement later on in the year.”
North Green MSP John Finnie, a keen cyclist and ex Highland councillor, was critical of the council snub.
He said: “Inverness has a higher than Scottish average use of bicycles. There’s also increased interest in competitive cycling, so a velodrome would be a great addition to the north’s portfolio of quality sporting facilities.”
Culloden and Ardersier councillor Trish Robertson, whose ward includes Tornagrain, has welcomed the interest but feels the evolving township has bigger priorities.
She said: “Any sports facilities are good for Highland. Whether it’s top of the list or not would be something else.
“Obviously, Tornagrain is looking for medical schools and everything else which come way before sport because these are essential necessities for everybody but any sports facilities that come to the east side of Inverness are to be welcomed because we have so little, we have to cross town for everything at the moment.”
Scottish Cycling will host a public workshop in Inverness on Tuesday to showcase its future strategy to promote cycling. The event, at Inverness College UHI, runs from 7pm to 9pm.
HiVelo is optimistic that its revised ambitions “will be embedded within it” and will be watching the debate closely.
A spokeswoman for Scottish Cycling said: “We support HiVelo’s pursuit of developing a velodrome. From a Highland perspective, it will be a huge benefit for those keen track cyclists in the north not to have to travel to Glasgow to train and compete.”
