In spite of submitting a strong application, last year Amesbury School missed out on being one of three pilot schools in the Bikes in Schools project. Today we submitted an application for the next round of grants. We believe that once again we have presented a strong case for bringing the Bikes in Schools project to Churton Park. The Wellington Bikes in Schools' fund provides for the cost of a Riding Track (ashphalt - 2 metres wide by up to 1km long) and bike storage. Each school can receive up to $80,000, and no more than 80% of the total cost of setting up a programme. The school will need to raise between $15,000 and $20,000 for bikes and helmets and planting, furniture and landscaping. The school would also be responsible for all ongoing maintenance costs. If successful, the school would also explore the feasibility of putting in a pump track and a skills track.
As one of the few flat areas in Churton Park, many families use Amesbury School at the weekends and after school for their recreational and "learning to ride" activities. This would be hugely enhanced by a purpose built bike track. We can see such an addition at the school being very well used, not only by students, but by the wider Churton Park community.
We are very appreciative of the support of Churton Park School who are unable to put in their own application (due to lack of space), but are enthusiastically in support of our application. They can see that such a community asset has potential benefits for their school families as well as ours and could be used by both schools for cycle skills programmes. Most of all, we are all in agreement that a successful application would help to build and grow our Churton Park community and enable more people to stay within the community for recreational activities. Something we are all keen to see.
