Funding approved to create new mountain bike trails at Cannock Chase

Cannock Chase Council have approved plans from Forestry England to create new mountain bike trails at Cannock Chase in the midlands

Credit: William Hook

The forest will be one of the venues for the Commonwealth Games used for mountain biking events with the total investment for the new trails estimated to be around £900,000.

The legacy off-road cycle trail will encourage local residents to be physically active outdoors with a new blue garden trail which will act as a progression route to more technical and challenging routes such as the red graded Follow the Dog trail.

Andy Harvey-Coggins, Recreation Manager at Forestry England, said:  “For some time we’ve had aspirations to improve our cycling trail offer for mid-level cyclists at Cannock Chase Forest. This funding will not only allow us to build that provision, but it will also mean that we can create a bike play trail to inspire and help improve the cycling skills of the next generation of off-road cyclists, and also add more technical features to our popular red graded (difficult) mountain bike trails. This will mean we can provide a true ‘novice to expert’ off-road and traffic-free cycling offer on Cannock Chase – away from the ecologically-sensitive areas of the Chase that we want to help protect”.

Victoria Wilson, Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture at Staffordshire County Council said: “It’s great news that Cannock Chase will host the mountain biking trials for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

“With a unique blend of stunning scenery and amazing wildlife, Cannock Chase is one of the jewels in the Staffordshire crown. And with some of the best mountain bike trails in the region, this is a great opportunity to show off our amazing county to a global audience.

“There’s a huge passion for cycling here in Staffordshire already and I’m sure such a high profile sports event will have a lasting legacy and encourage even more people to get on their bikes and stay active.

“The new trail being created for the competition and the legacy programme will also mean that people will be able to come and enjoy the dedicated trails whilst protecting the rest of Chase’s precious landscape.”