ALMOST half a million pounds will be put aside to help build a new cycling centre in Evesham.

Wychavon District Council’s executive board backed plans to spend an extra £452,000 on a project to build a state-of-the-art cycling hub at Evesham Football Club.

The extra money would push the cost of the work to just over £2 million.

The major cycling facility at Evesham Football Club off the town’s Cheltenham Road would include a one-kilometre closed-circuit track and a mound-filled pump track for BMX riders as well as routes and trails for learners and cyclists of all abilities.

Cllr Rob Adams, portfolio holder for community engagement, culture and sport, said the facility would be built for people of all abilities across the country.

“This is a much bigger and more exciting project for Evesham but it is not just about Evesham, it is not just about Wychavon and it’s not just about the county of Worcestershire,” he told councillors during the meeting on Wednesday (March 23).

“It is for the whole country.

“The standard that this is going to be built to is for everybody. One part for the beginners, one part for the professionals and one for all those in between.

“It’s a lot of money, I accept that. The Valley project is dead in the water and we need to move on.”

The council said the decision to build the cycling tracks at the football club would provide more than 30,000 square metres of space – double than what was available at the original location in the town’s Valley shopping centre.

The now preferred location at Evesham Football Club also means the road circuit and pump track can be built to a national competition standard.

A report, which was discussed by the council’s executive board, said the extra money is needed to cover the cost of car parking and inflation.

The council has said it expects to pay for the whole project through section 106 money handed over from housing developers to help pay for community infrastructure such as roads, parks and schools, and grant money from the government.

The project was also awarded £500,000 by Sport England and British Cycling.