Kesgrave pump track approved by East Suffolk Council

The proposal was unanimously passed in a planning committee meeting on Tuesday, November 26. 

It was also revealed that the track was being funded by "generous benefactor" Guy Nicholls, the CEO of the TRU7 Group, who "wanted to give back to Kesgrave".

The site, next to the car at the Millennium Sports Hall, where the pump track will be built (Image: Google Maps) In September, consultations for the pump track were reopened after Kesgrave Town Council submitted an amended application for the site, meant to address residents concerns. 

Locals had raised objections over the site, fearing that it would disrupt the local landscape of the area known as "Longstrops" and that the location could become a hub for anti-social behaviour. 

However, with the addition a seven foot high green fence, that will be locked after dark, no external lighting and CCTV cameras around the site, it was decided that the benefits outweighed the potential drawbacks.

The new pump track will not be lit at night, to prevent the site from becoming a hot bed of anti-social behaviour (Image: Kesgrave Town Council) Rod Gibson, spoke on behalf of Kesgrave Town Council said: "The outcomes of our extensive consultations across four face to face engagements and on social media confirm that this proposal has overwhelming support across town.

"However this is not to dismiss the objections of some of those living in the vicinity of the proposed site."

The new track will be built adjacent to the car park at Millennium Sports Hall (Image: Google Maps) Mr Gibson went onto highlight Suffolk police's positive attitude towards reducing the risk of anti-social behaviour in a face to face meeting where residents were invited to.

It was also mentioned that the fencing will feature two gates, a single gate that will be the main access gate and a double gate to be used in emergency. 

Read more: Kesgrave wins most active town at Suffolk Community Awards

Councillor Debbie McCallum said that Kesgrave has to "think outside of the box" when it comes to providing recreational facilities.

She added that by approving the proposal the council had "the opportunity to give the young people of Kesgrave the best Christmas present ever".