Improvement Works to Upton Lane Recreation Ground

A recreation ground in Shrewsbury has seen its facilities improved as part of an ongoing programme to upgrade BMX provision for people in the Monkmoor area of the town.

Shrewsbury Town Council put the work out to tender at the end of last year with a proposed budget of £40,000.

Clark and Kent Contractors Limited, based in Market Drayton, were awarded the job for the upgrade of the BMX track at Upton Lane Recreation Ground. Work on the project commenced at the end of March with the new tracks opened to the public at the beginning of May.

Councillor Pam Moseley, Ward member for Monkmoor, said: ““I am delighted to see the completion of the fully redesigned BMX track at Upton Lane recreation ground, funded by contributions from the redevelopment of the nearby Crowmoor House site in Frith Close for housing.

“In addition to an exciting new layout, a separate track for beginners has been constructed alongside, making the facility suitable for all ages and abilities, and it is already proving very popular with local enthusiasts.

“The £135,000 developer contribution is also to fund a new play area and other works at the park, providing the residents of Monkmoor and beyond with much improved local facilities.”

Plans for the site included improvements to the existing BMX track with a redesign of features as well as building a new track for beginners to give them more confidence before moving on to the larger track. The upgrades to the BMX track will provide local residents with a better standard of play facilities for the area. Part of the redesign of the site also incorporated a change in the configuration of the wheeled sports track to help discourage anti-social behaviour previously experienced by neighbouring properties.

Leader of the Town Council, Councillor Alan Mosley, added: “We are committed to improving the facilities within the town for the benefit of our residents and Upton Lane is part of our overall capital programme of works.

“Whilst we encountered some delays in getting the work started, it’s great to see that the new wheeled sports track has been well-received by local residents with many of our young people excited to meet the challenges of the new track. This is a welcome addition to the facilities provided by the Town Council for local residents.

“We will also be looking at refurbishing the play area at Upton Lane in line with our 2021/22 Capital Plan. The Tender Documents for this project will be released in due course.”

ENDS/

Published: 13 May 2022