A pump track for Walkerburn - a WCDT project

Update November 2023

In conjunction with SBC we are holding a small exhibition in the Public Hall between 13.30 & 15.30 on Friday 24^th November to show the final design plans for the track and answer any questions. Staff from SBC and hopefully some of our local Councillors will be there along with representatives from WCDT.

There will be a short power point presentation & there will be plans on the wall so everyone can see how the new facility will look when built.

Funding has been provided by Sports Scotland & Scottish Borders Council with construction scheduled to commence in April 2024 with an estimated build time of some 8 weeks.

The build project will be managed by Scottish Borders Council who will also be responsible for long term maintenance of the track and park.

All are welcome to attend.

Update September 2023

Our plans for a pump track in the village for the community to enjoy have made a giant leap forward with the confirmation of funding for the construction.  The money has come from the Sport Scotland Cycling Facilities Fund and the Scottish Borders Council (SBC) and construction will begin in April 2024.

Under the plans for the track there will also be two basketball hoops and football goals as part of an upgraded multi-use games area facility.   Charlie Trousdell, from Walkerburn Community and Development Trust (WCDT), said: ‘This funding boost is fantastic news for the community.  We wanted to provide a much-needed, fun, free, community resource for the children (and adults) of the village that will encourage more people to take part in physical exercise and enjoy the outdoors.  Last year WCDT held a survey among villagers to gauge opinion on the proposal and the response was overwhelmingly positive.’

The pump track will be sited on the playing fields at the far end of Tweedholm Avenue and work is expected to take six to eight weeks. There is an existing football pitch that will be retained and basketball hoops are being installed. SBC will procure and manage the works as well as the long-term maintenance of the track.

Cathie Hart the village Resilience Co-ordinator said ' This is such a great venture for the community and congratulations to all who have helped secure it.  Going to be lots of happy children next year and adults to get some peace!!'

Emma Guy, WCDT member and recent project manager for the 2023 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships at Glentress, said the facilities would help create an entry point into cycling for non bikers.  She said: ‘The pump track at Walkerburn will be a great asset for beginners and local kids.  We are looking forward to hosting local groups and lessons on the track and getting Walkerburn pedalling.’

Robin Tatler, Tweeddale East independent councillor, said the funding was ‘brilliant news.’  Mr Tatler said: ‘Congratulations to WCDT for their work in taking this from an idea that came out of a community fair to identify what local people wanted through to reality.  Myself and the other local councillors are delighted that funding from SBC is helping to make this happen and that our team will be working with WCDT to deliver the project.  Thanks also go to Sport Scotland for their major funding contribution – without which this would not be possible.  We all look forward to this facility opening next year and can be sure it will be well used by locals and visitors alike.’

Update Summer 2023

Planning consent was secured back in February and we are in the process of discharging the conditions that were attached to the consent.

Funding does take time but we are making good progress with Sports Scotland who will contribute up to 50% of the costs and we expect to get a decision within the next couple of months.

The good news is that Scottish Borders Council (SBC) Open Spaces Fund is prepared to contribute to the funding of the Pump Track along with the new goalposts and basketball hoops.

SBC will arrange the procurement process and as landowners will maintain the site in the long term.

The procurement process takes 2 to 3 months from invitations to tender being issued and award of contract. All the potential contractors are specialists in this area and are busy on other contracts, so it is likely that construction of the track will not be able to start until spring 2024.

Update December 2022
Great news! The planning application for the pump track is officially submitted. Now it will go through scrutiny and several professional surveys will be conducted to ensure it complies with flood and environmental planning etc. This process should take about 3 months.

We are hopeful that we will be able to get this built for the kids of Walkerburn. We are also working on keeping the kick around area and looking at what else we can add on to make it a real recreational hub.

Update November 2022
The Development Trust is working hard on getting the pump track built in Walkerburn. There are a number of site surveys needed to get it through planning.

The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland have stepped in to support the specialist costs needed to get us through planning. If all goes well we hope to break ground early Spring... The kids should be using it next year. Can't wait to see it becoming a part of the village. We are also talking with SBC about retaining the footie area and adding basketball hoops. Other ideas are welcomed!

Results of Pump track survey in August

As most of you know we have 8 e-bikes for hire at a very low rate for village residents this year.

The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland has also given us money to buy some brilliant Armadillo storage for the bikes so we can all access them more easily and they are kept safe. We are hoping to place these more centrally so they get more use.

Hopefully we all get great use out of both.

Stay tuned as we'll will be reaching out for your input on the pump track including the basketball & football kick around areas and layout.

On Saturday 6th August there was a pop up pump track for people to try out on the football area at the end of Tweedholm Avenue.   Lots of people came along to give it a go, and to share there views on the posibility of installing a permanent pump track in that area of the village.  The vast majority of people were strongly in favour recognising that a pump track would be a great addition to the facilities available to younger people (and others too) in the village. 

There were some people who were concerned about the loss of some of the area of the football pitch, and this will  be considered when it comes to looking at the final location.   Those residents who look directly onto the area have received a copy of the survey through their door and it is important that they fill in the survey.