On Tuesday 2 August, Bassetlaw District Council’s Parks and Open Spaces team welcomed more than a dozen young BMXers to the Hallcroft Hill play area site to join them in designing and building a new BMX track, following consultation with young people in the area. The Council provided the materials and equipment and the young people dropped in to provide the ideas and inspiration. The Council team was on site from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm and the ideas contributed by the bikers resulted in the bike track that they wanted.

The idea for the joint project came from Councillor Adele Mumby, who said: “Living on the estate and having for years worked with young people in the area, I was approached about the possibility of getting some help from the Council to improve on the BMX track that they have been trying to set up in the treeline next to the play area in Leafield Road. The Parks and Open Spaces integrated the work into their normal open spaces maintenance programme.”

Portfolio Holder for Environment and Leisure, Councillor Julie Leigh said: “The Council’s experience has shown that giving young people a say in the kind of amenities provided for them has many positive benefits. Having the bikers involved in a practical way strengthens the sense of ownership of the track as well as showing that the Council is genuinely committed to listening to residents and delivering the kind of facilities they want.”