Velo-dream

Vision can reveal that the University of York are planning further significant developments of the sporting facilities on offer on campus.

Keith Morris, Head of Sport at York, told Vision: “Sport has been a focus for so many people this year and the opening of the Sport Village has been a highlight as has the significant increase in student activity levels.

“This year started positively with clubs returning early for pre-season camps and that seemed to set the agenda for a year that continued in such a positive vein.

“Hopefully those returning next autumn will feel as positive and will be motivated by the efforts being made across the University and the Union to further enhance sports related opportunities on campus.”

Plans are being implemented to construct a velodrome and mountain bike trail on Heslington East, whilst facilities such as the tent, boathouse and athletics track will all receive a significant overhaul.

A 250m closed cycling circuit is to be situated on Heslington East, as part of the move to expand sporting provisions at the University, and make York a regional hub for cycling.

The University’s links with British Cycling have enabled the significant improvement of facilities on offer over past months, with the recent installation of the 1.2km loop cycling circuit being the first part of the development.

The viability of plans to construct a 3km mountain bike trail are also currently being assessed, whilst it is hoped that the current cycling facilities will receive 25,000 visitors in the next year.

An eight lane county standard athletics track is also set to be constructed, along with a stand of a minimum capacity of 300. The location of this facility is yet to be confirmed, with the possibility for it to be situated either on Heslington East, or in place of the current track around the JLD. Therefore there is the potential for the relocation of the JLD Astro, as a grass field would form the centre of the athletics track. In place of the JLD an enhanced quality hockey facility would be provided, in the form of a sand dressed or hybrid astroturf.

As well as this, a tennis dome will be installed, which will cover the three floodlit tennis courts by the sports centre, allowing them to be used in adverse weather conditions. The work on this will be completed in the autumn term, whilst the University are also hoping to attract a postgraduate to coordinate tennis at the institution and provide coaching sessions as part of an LTA nationwide initiative.

In addition to these new constructions, existing facilities are also set to be redeveloped. The current gym in the sports centre is to undergo a significant overhaul, and it is hoped that a new and improved gym will be in place by September, with an increased focus on strength and conditioning. A comprehensive survey in March highlighted the areas where equipment was lacking, and these moves will look to rectify this problem. The development will treble the floor space of the existing gym, and provide an improved service for team training sessions or classes.

General fitness facilities will be located on the first floor, with the emphasis downstairs revolving around strength and conditioning. A first floor dance studio will also be installed as the University looks to emulate leading sporting institutions such as Loughborough. Improved storage facilities will also be provided with the completion of the storage container, which will protect valuable equipment from the elements and replace the existing storage containers.

Furthermore, the current planning permission for the tent as a temporary fixture will not be re-granted, so a permanent fixture is set to be installed in its place on the same footprint. The facility will be cladded to allow for temperature regulation throughout the year. The timescale for this work is as of yet unconfirmed, but it has been budgeted for and planning work is set to start next year.

A bid has also been made to Sport England to secure the redevelopment of the boathouse, with a two storey construction planned to replace the current facility which is in need of significant repair. The first stage of the application has been completed, and it is hoped that the new facility will meet the club’s current needs and facilitate further progression in the future.

All of these developments remain largely in the planning stage, but they signify a major move towards assuring high quality facilities for students at the University. Money has been put aside for this work, as the University realises that current facilities are coming to the end of their lifespan and will need replacing.

Second year English student Fred Isaac told Vision: “As long as they increase the weights in the lifting section, then the plans are all good by me – the current selection is sup-par brah.”

First year Chemistry student James-Luca Burroughs added: “I’m delighted that the University are investing in new facilities. The new sport village seems excellent, and more facilities of a similar standard will only help to improve the standard of sport at York in the following years.”

The new sports village on Heslington East has been overwhelmingly successful, with the current membership now numbering 4889, whilst there are also 2441 students who are a member of the old sports centre, highlighting the important role that it continues to play. These new plans look set to continue the progression that has been made over the past year, and benefit students in years to come.