Huge cash boost for cycling in Hartlepool

Published Thursday, 18th March 2021

Efforts to encourage more Hartlepool people to lead healthier and more active lives by learning to ride and cycling more frequently have received a huge boost.

Hartlepool Borough Council has successfully applied to British Cycling’s Place to Ride Programme for £250,000 that will be used to develop accessible, traffic-free community cycling facilities and opportunities.

To secure the money, councillors have also agreed to allocate an additional sum of £120,000 from the authority’s Neighbourhood Investment Programme budget - a capital investment programme designed to benefit communities across the town.

The main focus of the project will be on Summerhill Country Park with supporting activity at Seaton Park, and it will be aimed in particular at young people, families, disabled people and women, to enable them to cycle more safely, more often. The project will also support people to further develop their cycling skills in track cycling and BMX, in partnership with several local clubs.

Councillor Sue Little, Chair of the Council’s Adult Services Committee, said: “This is tremendous news for the town. The Council is committed to helping people stay healthy by leading more active lives, and this funding will make a huge contribution to that.

“I would like to thank everyone who played a part in ensuring the success of our bid to British Cycling, including the many hundreds of residents of the town who took part in our online survey about cycling in Hartlepool – the findings of which were used in supporting the bid and ultimately in securing the funding.”     

At Summerhill Country Park, proposals include:

  • A 750-metre “free-form” tarmac, fenced and floodlit cycle track. Set on and across gently sloping terrain, it will incorporate varying elevations and degrees of cornering difficulty and be suitable and safe for riders of all ages and abilities.
  • A dedicated balance bike and learn-to-ride area, for younger people keen to learn new skills.
  • Temporary floodlighting for BMX training purposes, spectator fencing along the starting straight, “warm up/cool down” area and improved corner banking to enhance the BMX track.
  • Secure cycle storage.
  • The purchase of 8 adapted cycles to provide disabled people, their families and carers with equal access to cycling opportunities.

Whilst there will be no new cycling infrastructure at Seaton Park, it is intended to run a cycling activity programme for young people, families and adults, including disabled people.