Zip wires, a climbing activity centre and an adventure golf course have been removed from the final masterplan for Newbold Comyn after public consultation

But plans for three cycle trails and a learn to ride area will go ahead as long as a funding bid from British Cycling is successful
Zip wires, a climbing activity centre and an adventure golf course have been removed from the final masterplan for Newbold Comyn following a third round of public consultation.But plans for three cycle trails and a learn to ride area will go ahead as long as a funding bid from British Cycling is successful.Zip wires, a climbing activity centre and an adventure golf course have been removed from the final masterplan for Newbold Comyn following a third round of public consultation.But plans for three cycle trails and a learn to ride area will go ahead as long as a funding bid from British Cycling is successful.
Zip wires, a climbing activity centre and an adventure golf course have been removed from the final masterplan for Newbold Comyn following a third round of public consultation.But plans for three cycle trails and a learn to ride area will go ahead as long as a funding bid from British Cycling is successful.

Zip wires, a climbing activity centre and an adventure golf course have been removed from the final masterplan for Newbold Comyn following a third round of public consultation.

But plans for three cycle trails and a learn to ride area will go ahead as long as a funding bid from British Cycling is successful.

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A total of 2,215 responses were received during the consultation that took place between March and June with many voicing their concerns that an activity centre would make the area too commercial with Newbold Comyn becoming a destination venue leading to increased traffic.

Further discussions with a steering group set-up by Warwick District Council concluded that any future development should be aimed primarily at residents.

But there was support among consultees for improved links between the site and existing cycle and pedestrian routes and nearly two-thirds said they would use the proposed cycle tracks.

Speaking at yesyerday's (Tuesday's) executive meeting of Warwick District Council, Cllr Moira-Ann Grainger (Con, All Saints and Woodloes), the portfolio holder for culture and neighbourhood, explained the plans were now based on what residents wanted.

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She said: “It has come through very loudly in the consultations that people want as much open space as they can have access to.

“At the moment we have the chance to bring forward cycling with cycle routes at three different levels and other ideas with the cycling fraternity based on the British Cycling application we have made for funding.

“I would like to hope that we do get the money and that we can carry this forward. We have to design the routes and need expert advice to do that work.

“This is the start of a long-term project based around what we can afford to do in the near future and what is achievable based on what our residents want from that consultation.”

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One of the free-to-use trails would be aimed at families while the others would be a cross-country trail and another based on bike skills. The learn to ride area, bike hire and maintenance facilities would be located in the former golf shop.

The council’s original funding application to the British Cycling for Places to Ride (PTR) programme was successful and a stage two application will now be submitted which could result in an award of half of the estimated £850,000 capital costs for the construction of the facilities.

In addition to that, the council will need to find around £55,000 for the design of the trails, surveys and planning and then work with an external partner - possibly a local cycling club - to devise and oversee a cycling development programme which is a requirement of the British Cycling funding.