A GROUP of bike mad parents in Wroughton are counting on the support of the village to back their plans to create a BMX facility in the area.

The estimated £50,000 project has already been granted planning permission and has the backing of the parish council to install a tarmac track on the recreation ground off Maunsell Way.

Now, the biking parents hope to gain support and feedback from villagers towards the plans in order to secure grants to fund the project.

Ben Leach, 43, has lived in Wroughton for the last 10 years, is the brains behind the idea.

“Biking is something I did as a child and, naturally, I tried to get my boys Samuel, six and Isaac, four, interested in riding bikes,” he explains. “It was when we were looking for more of a challenge in a track near us that we were disappointed to find that there was nothing around in the area.

“We started going to the track at Bromham and I thought that if a small village can find a means to do it then I can do it here in Wroughton too.

“We have got a few options in terms of funding but we are hoping we will be able to get the main bulk from a lottery grant. We are taking advice from British Cycling and we hope that if we can gather enough support, it will help our applications for local community grants as well.”

Once the funds have been raised, the project would take four weeks to complete. Fit for all year round, the track would allow BMX bikers a space to brush up on their skills with modern features including banked corners and jump ramps.

BMX Wroughton initially formed last year to gauge an interest from people for a track closer to home and the reaction has overwhelmed the group of parents including Jennifer Purcell.

The 37-year-old said: “The BMX track would be safe and free, a place to meet outdoors and it would provide children a space to meet. I have been cycling for 10 years and I have done all types of mountain biking and so having somewhere like this track here will mean that I can go and polish up on my skills as well.

“It is somewhere we can go as a family where the children can burn off a bit of energy and there are so many things we can do on one track.”

To show support for the plans, people can answer this survey: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/JYHSZM8 or for updates on the project, visit www.facebook.com/BMXWroughton.