A bowling green is set to be turned into a community bike park with a BMX track, coaching sessions and programmes for people with disabilities.

The project at Peel Park has been developed by charities Little Hulton Big Local and Access Sport with most of the money coming from Sport England.

The asphalt bike track, due to open in March, was granted planning permission by Salford councillors last week and work is due to start on site early next year.

The facility, which will be owned and operated by the local authority, promises to be open for members of the public to access every day from 9am to 9pm.

Only one objection was received to the application for a new bike track at the park's bowling green and there were 21 comments supporting the proposal.

Planning panel chairman Coun Ray Mashiter commented on this support.

He said: “I think this is an excellent scheme. We don’t normally have such support for things of such a nature and clearly, it’s a very community-led scheme and it’s very positive for the local area in Little Hulton."

Access Sport BMX Track in Hartcliffe, Bristol
Access Sport BMX Track in Hartcliffe, Bristol

This will be the first bike track Access Sport will be opening in the north west.

Working with local community groups, the London charity says it will offer cycling opportunities for all through its Making Trax Cycling Inclusion scheme as well as specific programmes for women, girls and people with disabilities.

It also plans to develop a volunteer-based community club at the park.

Earlier this month, Salford City Council awarded the contract for construction of the Peel Park Community Bike Park to Architrail Velosolutions UK Ltd.

The contract, for which four tenders were submitted, is worth £220,253.29.

Environmental services officer Ian Worsley presented the project to Salford's procurement board on October 6.

He said: “This is quite an interesting project because it’s developed by Little Hulton Big Local, people on our neighbourhood management team up there.

“We’ve taken quite a keen interest. Our role has been one of supporting the members of Little Hulton Big Local group and the neighbourhood management team trying to get this project off the ground and developed.”

During the summer, Access Sport held a six-week bike maintenance course in which young people tested bikes on the pathway link around Peel Park.

Access Sport's Making Trax NEET Bike Maintenance and Young Leader Programme at Peel Park, Little Hulton, Salford in Summer 2020
Access Sport's Making Trax NEET Bike Maintenance and Young Leader Programme at Peel Park, Little Hulton, Salford in Summer 2020

The police donated bikes that had previously been stolen and not reclaimed, and the council put a call out for bikes to be donated by Salford residents.

The young people on the course refurbished 25 bikes and seven participants who did not previously own a bike, took one after completing the course.

The remaining refurbished bikes were given out to disadvantaged young people, young carers, children in care and Sure Start Centres in the area.