293

AGENDA ITEM m. --) ao

NORTH LANARKSHIRE COUNCIL

REPORT

?o: LEISURE SERVICES COMMITEE Subject: SCOTISH NATIONAL CYCLING CENTRE, COVERED - PROJECT - RAVENSCRAIG SITE From: DIRECTOR OF LEISURE SERVICES

(Date: 16 JANUARY (Ref: MMcMIKT ( 1997

1 Introduction

The Scottish Cyclists Union, with the support of the Scottish Sport Council, wish to make a grant application to the U.K. Sports Council for British Funding, to finance the possible construction of an El 1 million Velodrome at the Ravenscraig site, Motherwell. An explanatory letter, plus background information, is attached.

The following report has therefore been compiled in conjunction with the Department of Planning and Development.

2 The Project

It is the intention of the Scottish Cyclists Union to construct a 250 metre covered Velodrome with multi sports capabilities within the track centre area. The facility would be designated as the Scottish National Cycle Centre, would become the Scottish National and British Regional Centre of Excellence, and, in the future would have links with the intended new Sports Academy.

As outlined in the appendix, the track centre area could accommodate other sports, including football, tennis, athletics, hockey, cricket, basketball and judo. All without compromise to the cycle track.

The Velodrome would cost in the order of El 1 million, being capable of accommodating up to 2,000 spectators, including 1,000 which would be seated. Also, the provision of flexible space on the bends and behind the fixed stands would further allow for additional temporary seating up to a capacity of 4,000.

The track would be built to international standards and would be capable of hosting the highest level of competition.

The Scottish Cyclists Union have also indicated that they would relocate their office headquarters to the Velodrome, increase their current staffing to three, and provide ten full and part time jobs. Further, the project would include for changing accommodation, plus bar and restaurant facilities.

L:\DIRECTOR\COMMIlTE\LEISCOMM\CYCLE.REP 294

3 Proposed Funding Arrangements

Indication has already been received from the Scottish Sports Council that they would support the scheme at local level, whilst supporting the application in a bid to the U K Sports Council for British Funding, The overall contribution to capital grant could be as high as 95%.

A successful bid would ensure grant aid to a capital cost of €1 0.5 million.

It is also anticipated that further funding for revenue purposes may be available from the Sports Council, over a four year period. A similar scheme in Manchester has been given four years support to the level of €225,000 per annum.

4 Location

The Scottish Cyclist Union have indicated they would be delighted to relocate to the new development in Ravenscraig, seeing Motherwell as their favoured site. The development accords with the approved strategy for the Ravenscraig site and would provide an important early component to the regeneration of both the site and the surrounding area.

5 Summary

The Scottish Cyclist Union therefore require a funding partner to formalise an application to the U.K. Sports Council for British Funding and have asked North Lanarkshire Council to join them in the application.

It should also be noted that a commitment by the Council at this stage would not be binding in any way and would have no financial consequences initially. However, a statement of intent from North Lanarkshire Council would allow the Scottish Sports Council to proceed with the Scottish Cyclists Union application to the UK Sports Council.

Should a grant offer be made, the Council will have twelve months to accept or decline the Project.

6 Recommendation

That North Lanarkshire Council provide indication of their support to the Scottish Cyclist Union in allowing them to, in conjunction with Scottish Sports Council, make an application to the U.K. - Sports Council for British Funding.

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14 Januan; 1997

Mr Norman Turner Director of Leisure North Lanarkshire Leisure Buc hanan Tower Stepps

Dear h4.r Turner,

Further to our recent meetings and discussions, we enclose a short repon detailing our project and our plans for an application to The Sports Lottery Fund.

We now nave wTitien support from The Scottish Sports Council who nil1 inake an application on our behalf for British Funding and support from the British Cyciing Federation who have now promoted this project to priority level.

%-e wish to thank you and your department for the support and encouragemmt given to date and !ook fonvard to a successful and mutually beneficial partnership.

Yours sincerely rr : \!&b,*!:-\

David A. Hoy i Project Co-ordinator .

CYCLE~UK 296

SCOTTISH CYCLISTS unmv

SCOTTISH NATIONAL CYCLING CENTRE COVERED YELODROME

The Scottish Cyclists' Union, (SCU) is the Governins Body for in . It has just under two thousand members who affiliate through a club structure spread throughout the countrq. It is administered through two full-time paid members of staff and an elected esecuti\.e board.

Cycle sport fah into two broad bands, on niid off-road.

0 On road; Road Races and Time Trials. e Off road; Track Racing and Mountain Biking

Between all disciplines, there are over 25.000 competitive rides encli year.

Track racing is the Cinderella of Scottish Cycling, underfunded, but ivith great potential. The discipline takes place on a 250m wooden track and encompasses short. medium and long distance races. There is only one facility in Scotland, at Meadotvbank Stadium in Edinburgh. It is one of the best tracks in the world and was used as the model for the Velodrome at the Barcelona Olympic Games. It is however open to the elements and, as you might expect, suffers from our interesting climate.

Despite this major drawback, Scottish track cq.clists have produced inore SLICCC~SSat British. European and World level than in any other branch of cycling

Scottish track riders have achieved

e 7 %odd Records. e 3 World Championship wins.

0 Olympic Games. 4th. 6th and 1 1 th

0 Common\\ealth Games. 2nd. 3rd. 5th and 8th 0 41 British Championships

All this success from a small start \L.ith two British Junior Medals in 1953

Our sport has, howxr, moved on, with covered velodrome being built by all our major competitors, including England. The new Manchester Velodrome has been 3 huge success with the riders. After just eighteen months. it is operating at 85O,~ocapacih. and the riders who can train there regularly are showing a marked improvement in performance. Almost ever]; British and several World records have been broken in Manchester in the last year.

Scotland is being left behind

We need a covered facility to take cycle sport forward into the next millenium 297

THE SCHEME

The Velodrome \vi11 cost f: 1 1 in and \vi11 have an enclosed area of 10,000 sq.m. It !\.ill haw a nonnal capacity, for cycling, of2.000 spectators. including 1000 seated. The provision of flexible space on the bends and behind the fixed stands \vi11 allow for additional temporary seatins up to a capacity of4000 seats. The track \\:ill be built to international standards and \vi11 be capable of hosting the highest level of competition. It \vi11 have office and changing accommodation and bar and restaurant facilities. The SCU \vi11 relocate and increase its staff to three. The velodrome management team would create ten full and part-time jobs.

We have an indication from the Scottish Sports Council that they would support the scheme at local level whilst passing the application to the UK Sports Council for British Funding. The overall contribution to capital grant could be as high as 9%. This wozifd mean Gruitt Aid /o cuprtal cos1 qf f10.5ni # We would also apply for funding to cover a revenue tail to allow support over the first four years of operation. A similuy scheme in .il.lanchester has given -fbur years sipport at a level of t'125,OOO ,DU. The Lanarkshire Development Agency has also indicated that they will consider a development levy on all occupants of the site which would fund provision of leisure. This is still under discussion.

Since completion of the feasibility study: changes in athlets funding through Sports Lottep. indicate that athletes will pay directly for use of sporting facilities and coaching. This ivill have a positive effect on revenue, as coaches and development officers salaries \till be paid directly by athletes.

l&h;e ivish to make an application to The Lottey Sports Fund.

We need a hnding partner.

The Scottish Cyclists' L'nion Lbould be deiightsd to rz-locate 10 the nz\\ deLzIopinent in Rabenscraig ar,d as such. inbite The North Lanarkshire District Councii 10 join us in our appiication

X commitment by the Council at this stage would not be binding in any wa)' and would have no financial consequences. This is merely a statement of intent and would allo\v the Sports Council 10 proceed with our appiicatlon. If and when an offer of grant aid is made. the Council will have twelve months to accept or decline the project.

NI we need is >.our acceptance of the project in principle.

Scottish Cyclists' Union 14 Januap 1997 298

THE CtA Y FOR WAUD

T\\.o >.ears ago: the first approach was made to The Scottish Sports Council Lvith the intention of lodging a bid for Lottery Funding. Last year. \vt3 \vex awarded the largest zbep award for a feasibili? study into our project. That stud! is now complete and lodged with the Sports Council.

It will be n superb fncilih..

In broad tenns, the recommendations are to build a ne\v. 350in covered Lelodrorne with multi- sport capability in the track centre. It ivould be designated as the Scottish National Cycling Centre, would become the Scottish National and British Regional Centre of Excellence and would have links with the new Sports Academy. The track centre could be used for twenty other sports, including football, tennis, athletics. hockey, cricket, basketball and judo. All without compromise to the cycle track. illeadowbank is not seen as the best site for the deyelopment.

Youth development.

We envisage close links Icith the community and ivith local schools. Our sport is still cheap and user friendly. Even at National level, it is possible to compete on equipinznt costing under $300. Youngsters will be able to try track racing for $3 including bike and helmet hire. We intend to copy a scheme which operates at Meadowbank Lvhich gives promising youngsters the extended loan of a bike for up to two years whilst they proFess in the sport and stop growing! The only cost is f35 for a years insurance.

Communiq use3firness and Iiealtlz.

We intend to introduce drop-in sessions where riders can use the track during their lunch breaks or just after work: at a nominal cost. Schemes currently working weil in blanchester include fitness classes, indoor jogging and weight training facilities. Ws \vi11 also operate. under franchise, a children's party centre. The sky is the limit.

.Vo rzlz L an arkshire and R a vensc ra ig

Followin,o discussions \yith several City and District Councils, the Scottish C:rlists' Union consider that the de1:elopment of the site at Ravenscraig Lvouid give our sport an unrivalled opportunity to expand and de\.elop into the nex: centup.. We nil1 also be able to use ihe new development's extensive road system for closed road criterium circuits and the leisure area for mountain bike and cyclo-cross training. Whilst our scheme is proposed as a stand-alone project, discussions have been held with other sport's Governing Bodies including football, and basketball and a ski centre. It may be possibie to develop a complex ivith the velodrome and multi-sport track-centre in one section, a full-sized indoor football centre in another section and an indoor dry ski slope and leisure centre in the third. The services and management team could be combined, thus reducing overall running costs.

This will be a major development and will have a very high profile Lk1th.m the sport, not just in Britain, but world-wide. It nil1 form part of a network of four covered velodromes and with this provision will come regional competitions and the exposure of our sport to regular television coverage.