English Park cycle track reprieved

Press, 23 February 1977, Page 40

English Park cycle track reprieved

By

RAY CAIRNS

A stay of execution has been granted to English Park, the ! only cycling facility in the Christchurch City Council's area.

The council, perhaps con- ■ scious of the present Bicycle I Week in Canterbury, this [week responded to a petition 'from cycling administrators (and returned for reconsideration a proposal that the i cycling track at English I Park should be demolished. I The council’s Parks and Reserves Committee had decided that the track should Igo, and make way for a 1400 m grass running track; 'the Toe H club is now based j at English Park. I But in response to a petition from the Canterbury j Track Cycling Committee, [which administers that facet [of the sport for the Canterbury centre, the council referred the question back to the committee. The reserves committee; will meet a deputation ofj three from the cycling committee on March 8, to hear, — for the first time — its; arguments in favour of re-: tention of the track. The future of the English’ Park track, one of the fast-' est in the country as well as I one of the oldest, has been! uncertain for the last four years. The previous Citizens controlled city council, running short of funds for Commonwealth Games fac-

ilities, gratefully accepted a suggestion that the Paparua

County Council’s major effort for the Games should

be upgrading Denton Park

That decision flew in the face of feeling among cycling people. At the same time, the then Mayor of Christchurch (Mr A. R. Guthrey) announced that Denton Park would be regarded as the centre of Canterbury cycling — again, without consultation with cycling administrators. There has subsequently been loose talk of an ‘agreement’ between the city and Paparua that Denton Park should be used to the utmost, and cycling bodies wishing to hire English Park| for track meetings have been refused its use. It is a little like Queen Elizabeth 111 Park being refused for a swimming carnival or athr' letics meeting. This ‘agreement’ is one point raised by the track cycling committee in its rep-

| resentations to the" council: ■ it wishes to know if such an agreement does exist, and if •so, the terms. j It makes a number of points, firstly reminding the [council that if it removes ithe cycling track, then I Christchurch city will have 'no cycling facility. It also raises the question I of the cost of removal, and [asks if there would be an : increased income to recoup any of this, let alone the i destroying of an asset. In an appeal for “fair play,” the [cycling committee mentions; [facilities being provided fori 'other sports — such as Por-I ritt Park — and asks for; (similar treatment, and also points out that resurfacing ;and base patching could be (done at English Park far a cost of $5352. It compares. this cost with the $30,000; budgeted for St Albans Park,! ■and a similar sum for next! (year. I The cycling committee! also reminds the council, > has spent very little on the ;

i maintenance of the trad i since before the Centenma ’ Games of 1951. Indeed i working bees of cyclists officials and followers per ■ farmed a great deal of min.- ■ maintenance work. ant ■ painting track markings themselves. i Finally, the cycling committee makes three point! referring specifically tc sport. It insists that Enghslt Park provides suitable fac- ’ ilities for at least thre« [sports, so why should the needs of one be sacrified? I It insists — and hat figures to support its claim? — that spectator and cyclist . interest has dropped in ■ Canterbury since the movt (to Dentan Park: an excellen- ’ cycling track but unattrao tive on the counts of dis;tance from the city and unpleasant climate. Finally, a resurfaced English Park track could be ’used for roller-skating and \ skate-board competitions.