Campaigners plan to take the simple dirt track at Castle Park in Dorchester and significantly expand upon it.
Mountain Bikers at Castle Park (Image: Dorchester Bike Park)
The project made it through to a consultation stage in 2022 after receiving unanimous support from Dorchester Town Council who own the land.
The campaign is headed by Jonathan Halsall, a keen mountain biker who enjoys cycling trails with his daughter. He had to park the project due to health problems but has been spurred on in recent weeks to kickstart the campaign with the help of another local dad.
Jonathan Halsall (Image: Dorchester Bike Park)
Mr Halsall said: “We came up with the idea in 2021 after I went to take my daughter up there and saw the state it was in. Getting these projects going can be really hard work, with people involved in getting Dorchester’s Skate Park built saying it could take up to a decade.
“In 2023 we were making process but still had so many hurdles to go through and I had to take some time off for my health.
“Recently Kieran Otoole-Cleall started up a separate group after he found the same difficulties with his son that I had with my daughter and this helped spur us on.”
According to campaigners the council have agreed with two dirt trails, one for beginners and one more advanced, and would involved the possible removal of goal posts on the field.
The beginners track will be a tarmac pump track for sustainability and accessibility.
Mr Halsall said: “Because of the change, we need to evidence to the council that the local community is behind these changes.”
Dirt track at Castle Park (Image: Dorchester Bike Park)
In recent years the track has worn away, and Mr Halsall said that professional work needs to be carried out so that children don’t injure themselves making their own ramps.
He said: “In the 80s and 90s there was a half-pipe perfect for BMXs and now it’s like why has no one done anything with this dirt track which has fallen into disrepair and can be dangerous for mountain bikers.
Now the campaigners are looking for volunteers in the hopes of drumming up enough support to keep the project on track.
Mr Halsall said: “We’re setting up a better plan so that we have a team behind us. We’re also looking to contact any British Cycling affiliated club that would be interested in using the park in an official capacity, even recreationally, as that will help us get more support from the organisation.
“Puddletown Forest has an almost legendary status among BMX riders, but there are no local safe facilities Wiltshire, Hampshire and Devon. There’s a massive black hole down here.
Rough design for Dorchester Bike Park, with the help of AI (Image: Dorchester Bike Park)
“In terms of volunteers we’re looking for people to engage with schools, a local community team to promote the park and putting up stalls at events and supermarkets. We’d also like to get more children involved as that would carry a lot of weight in being something that future generations need.
“On Sunday, August 16 we’re holding a meeting at 2pm to gauge interest in the project. Anyone interested in the project is welcome to attend.”