Carmarthen velodrome could have huge cash injection to become world class

County councillors in Carmarthen will meet this week to discuss proposals to upgrade the local velodrome in order to host regional and national cycling events.

Board members will tomorrow discuss the the joint venture between the town council with support from Sport Wales. The scheme which could see the velodrome repaired and resurfaced, would cost around £600,000.

The money would come from Sport Wales, which is expected to plough a grant of £294,000 into the scheme, and matched by the county council, which could contribute £286,000 towards work.

The town council is expected to pump no less than £25,000 into the scheme — in addition to £10,000 already pledged in the 2016/2017 budget.

http://www.carmarthenjournal.co.uk/Councillors-discuss-proposals-velodro...

Councillor Meryl Gravell told the Carmarthen Journal: "We look forward to seeing the full report at executive board next week when we will discuss the proposal and its recommendations.

"We have ambitions for Carmarthenshire to become the cycling capital of Wales, and this investment in the velodrome at Carmarthen would be a significant step in that journey.

"Our county already has a lot to offer with a premier off road mountain biking destination at Brechfa, numerous cycle tracks, including the stunning coastal route along the Millennium Coastal Park, and the Towy Valley cycle trails which offer spectacular scenery."

She added: "If this investment at the velodrome in Carmarthen is approved, it will offer another exciting activity for cyclists and attract more people to the area."

Yesterday we reported how the Wheal Jane circuit, the only off-road cycling track in Cornwall, if supporters can raise £10,000 for resurfacing, will become Cornwall’s only closed circuit cycle racing facility.

Local riders in Cornwall and West Devon are currently using the part gravel loop at Wheal Jane, near Truro, but if the £10,000 crowd funding campaign (link is external) is successful the Wheal Jane board, a group representing five local businesses, will provide £50,000 to tarmac the gravel section to make a continuous 1.4km lap suitable for racing.

The course, which is used by the One and All Youth Academy (link is external), was recently given the all-clear from British Cycling for racing use, if surfacing is complete and barriers are placed at certain locations along the track.