Sir Chris Hoy, Scotland’s most famous Olympian, has welcomed plans to build a new cycling hub in Edinburgh that will include a concrete track and one-mile road circuit.
The City of Edinburgh Council have announced the cycle hub plans as part of a ring-fenced £1.2m investment to improve sports infrastructure across the city. The council will approach other sports bodies, including SportScotland, to contribute to the programme. The hub would be situated south-east of the city, in Craigmillar, at the Jack Kane Sports Centre. A BMX track could also be added at a later date.
Six-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy, who was born and bred in Edinburgh, has been a passionate advocate for cycling facilities in his home city: “I'm delighted to hear that a new velodrome and road circuit are being built in my home city of Edinburgh, and very pleased to hear that the council are investing in local sports facilities, and in cycling in particular, to provide decent access and facilities for people wanting to get in to the sport.”
Edinburgh city council said detailed plans about final costs and timescales for the new facilities – which could eventually replace the ageing Meadowbank track – would be laid out in partnership with stakeholders at a later date.