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'BMX track needs to remain as part of our history'

Eleanor Maslin and Sarah Sanderson
BBC News
Sarah Sanderson/BBC A teenage boy is wearing a black top with a white skateboard logo which reads: 'VANS OFF THE WALL'. He is wearing a dark green helmet and smiling into the camera. You can see a path behind him leading to what looks like a garage and on the right is a red brick wall.Sarah Sanderson/BBC
Finn, 14, is one of the regular users of the BMX track in Cottingham

A mother whose son uses a BMX track which faces an uncertain future has said it needed to remain on a playing field as it is "part of Cottingham's history."

More than 70 people discussed the future of the site on King George V Playing Fields at a parish council meeting on Thursday following some concerns about how well it was used and issues of anti-social behaviour.

The track has been in use since 2008 but Cottingham Parish Council said additional maintenance would be required in the longer term and is consulting with residents.

Finn, 14, said he used the BMX track every night with his friends and that it was "great for our fitness and mental health".

He said: "We're helping people, we're teaching other people how to ride.

"There's absolutely no need for them to get rid of it."

Sarah Sanderson/BBC A woman wearing a black, white and beige patterned top has a small microphone attached to it and is looking slightly to the right smiling. She has curly brown hair and is wearing glasses and is stood in front of a house.Sarah Sanderson/BBC
Leigh said the BMX track was an important part of Cottingham

Leigh, whose son Joshua used the site, said: "There's just nothing else within Cottingham and we're one of the largest communities with a growing population.

"It just needs to remain, it's a part of the history of Cottingham."

Joshua, 14, said: "It's a good release of stress and anxiety after school.

"I have a great time when I'm out with my mates and I always enjoy it every single day."

Nicky Woods, whose child also used the track, said: "I think we just need to all pull together and perhaps form a working party and get this moving forwards."

Sarah Sanderson/BBC A landscape head and shoulders shot of a teenager in a black top with a white tick on it wearing a black helmet. He is smiling into the camera in front of a house.Sarah Sanderson/BBC
Joshua, 14, said using the BMX track created "a good release of stress"

Cottingham Parish Council said it was keen to find out if people would be willing to help manage the site in the future.

Councillor Julia Marten, chair of the parish council, said: "Some excellent ideas were put forward and it is clear that there is support for the track."

Marten also said that a "number of residents" had volunteered to form part of a working group to help assist with the future of the site.

Another meeting is to be held with volunteers and interested residents following the results of a public survey, she added.

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