Plans for £1m velodrome in Kingsteignton in doubt

The future of a £1million velodrome project in Kingsteignton, South Devon is in doubt. The village was bidding to become home to the South West's only outdoor cycling track.

But the vision for the cycling facility could be dumped because a feasibility study is believed to say the town is not the right place for it. Instead, the study is set to recommend Exeter as a more suitable location, reported local newspaper, the Herald Express.

The venue received backing from Devon County Council and British Cycling, the national governing body for the sport, who both agreed to fund the project, and it was set to be used by sports cyclists training for competitions and by youngsters developing their skills.

The velodrome was part of a £20million dream for a centre of excellence which would have state-of-the-art- facilities for a wide range of sports including badminton, athletics, gymnastics, swimming, football, hockey, cricket and cycling, and was unveiled last August by the council. There were also plans to build a cross-country and road-training tracks alongside the velodrome.

A comprehensive, independent feasibility study was commissioned at that time, and while it has not yet been made public but it is understood its contents dash hopes for a velodrome in Kingsteignton.

A Devon County Council spokesman said: "The feasibility study will be considered by the cabinet committee on a date yet to be fixed."

Conservative councillor Mike Walters said in the Herald Express: "My understanding is the feasibility study has found Exeter would be a better place. The vision for the sports facility was just that — a vision. Nothing was ever confirmed one way or another.”

There are no modern training facilities within 100 miles of Torquay. Tens of thousands, including hundreds of school children, turned out to see both stages, six and seven, of the Tour of Britain as it came to Devon and Somerset, the first time the South West has been awarded two stages of the race. Indeed the South West was the scene of some of the races biggest crowds last year.