The motion was supported by Daley Thompson, Chris Akabusi and Jason Gardener
With Whitchurch Athletics Track in Bristol at risk of being demolished to make way for new homes, campaigners are hoping not only to save the facility but also want the restored arena to help reduce anti-social behavior and knife crime in the area.
The local council plans to build 1,400 homes on the land currently occupied by the athletics track. Located in Hengrove Park, south of Bristol, the track was built in 1974 but has been in disrepair for many years and is currently used by the Bristol Family Cycling Centre, Southville Running Club and a small number of other athletes who use the track informally for training.
Bristol & West, the city’s largest club, is located a few miles away on the six-lane Whitehall track in the east of the city.
So far, the petition has been titled “Do you support the proposal to see Whitchurch athletics track in Bristol restored?more than 3000 signatures have been created. These include the support of athletes such as Daley Thompson, Chris Akabusi, Jason Gardener, Vernon Samuels, Keith Reed and Nick Rose.
Whitchurch Athletics Road
Not only are campaigners desperate to save the track to give local athletes a good option to train and compete in the future, but they believe the restored facility will reduce anti-social behavior at one of the shortest venues in the country.
“It is a known fact that there is a housing shortage, but our argument is that youth sports facilities should be protected and not removed,” said petition author John Pearce. “Following the epidemic, it has been well documented how inactivity and mental health problems are a growing problem.”
Campaigners are setting up a not-for-profit charter group called the Whitchurch Athletics Track Community Health Association (WATCHA), through which they are seeking funding to run events at the track, in addition to teaming up with the local hospital and leisure centre. .
“Our vision is to see the facility not only grow youth athletics in the area, but also be a tool to reach out to these communities to make a positive impact,” adds Pierce. “If the track is torn down and more housing is built on the site, we see these problems going down even further.
“We have already established some positive links with some of the secondary schools in the area who can see the opportunity that the rehabilitated track will bring to their young people.
“If the track is lost, we will see a lack of facilities to positively engage young people in sport, we will see things get worse.”
To support the signature collection. go here
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