Working together to develop a new mountain bike skills area

Wetherby Town Council is pleased to be able to announce that it has recently taken over ownership of land known as the Devil’s Toenail so that it can be redeveloped by Wetherby Bike Trails and SingletrAction as a mountain bike skills area. The site is located just off Quarry Hill Lane near the Harland Way.

The project builds on the success of the ‘Little Toe’ project which was constructed last year, marking completion of one of the early phases of Wetherby Bike Trail’s ambitions. The group had always had their eye on the Devil’s Toenail as the perfect location for a more difficult route and securing tenure over the land became their next challenge.

Rob and Ann Watson, who had retained the land despite moving from Wetherby many years ago, agreed that now was the right time to release ownership of the site and generously agreed to sell it to Wetherby Town Council for £1. Wetherby Town Council will be responsible for the management and maintenance of the new pump track once constructed.

After hearing about the Watson’s kind offer, local firms of solicitors HartLaw and Ware & Kay were pleased to become involved and it became a team effort to help drive through the sale which was completed in early May 2018. Daniel Cooil of HartLaw commented that “as a local firm it’s good to support local initiatives like this”, with Richard Peach of Ware & Kay keen to note that they have “supported several cycling events over recent years and we are very happy to assist in the growth of the sport in the town. I look forward to using the facility myself!”

It was the new Mayor of Wetherby’s first task to visit the site and oversee completion of the land purchase. Councillor Galan Moss said that he is:
“Pleased to see local firms, volunteers from community organisations and the Town Council working together to help deliver new recreation facilities for Wetherby. Cycling is now such a big part of Yorkshire life and it’s good to see the town being a part of this trend.”

Although the land is going to be temporarily closed to the public it is hoped that the new cycling facility can be quickly constructed, and the site re-opened in its new incarnation. Wetherby Bike Trails are working hard on proposals to fund the cycle track which it is hoped can be constructed and ready for use later this year.