Kesgrave pump track plans revised after public concerns

Kesgrave Town Council submitted the revised plans to East Suffolk Council after taking onboard community considerations. 

The proposal would see an asphalt track built adjacent to the car park of the Millennium sports park in the area known as "Long Strops", designed for bikes, scooters and skateboards. 

The proposed track would be covered by CCTV and a seven feet perimeter fence (Image: Google Maps) In the original application, the town council justified the construction of the track saying: [pump tracks] are a great way of supporting outdoor recreation and fitness.

"We wish to focus help on in these difficult post-Covid times of higher stress levels and increased mental ill-health in our young people."

Objectors to the plans said that the site could become a hub for anti-social behaviour and that the asphalt would be a blot on the landscape. 

The track woudl be accessible by the car park of Millennium Sports hall (Image: Google Maps) In an attempt to tackle those problems head on, the revised plans feature a seven-feet high perimeter fence, which will be green in order to blend in with the green space.

The gates to the track will be locked at night and a laurel hedge will be placed on the north side behind a row of trees, to disguise the track from view from the road and nearby residents. 

Other changes include:

• The installation of CCTV will cover the whole track area and including the Millennium Sports Ground car park entrance/exit.
• A “How to use the pump track safely and appropriately” will sign installed
• The Town Council will work with local Police, ESC Communities Officer and youth provision providers (4YP) to monitor and address any reports of anti-social behaviour

The town council also conducted a test to monitor potential sound pollution, the results of which were published earlier in the year.