Velodrome vision for Highlands ‘still possible’ despite north charity HiVelo dropping the plan over funding
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The Highland capital could still get a purpose-built velodrome despite news that a north charity that had been spearheading the aim has dropped its plans.
The drive for a new cycle sports complex – which would have been the first of its kind in the Highlands – has been abandoned by HiVelo due to a lack of funding.
However, Councillor Duncan Macpherson, who is a member of Highland Council’s cross party Inverness East Sports Facility Working Group, has said that such a facility could still be built if suitable funding could be secured.
He said the group was looking at bringing a whole range of different types of sporting facilities to the city and cited the skatepark in Inverness as a good example of how such facilities could benefit the area.
Cllr Macpherson encouraged HiVelo not to disband and said there was still scope for “legacy projects” from events such as the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the London Olympics to benefit Inverness.
He added: “I would hope that we could see these projects come to fruition, but ultimately we need the funds.”
He added: “I was disappointed when I read that it’s not going ahead but I hope that it can be resurrected by the working group.”
A Highland Council spokeswoman said: “The Highland Council will continue to look at opportunities with partners where finances will allow, however in December 2021, the council agreed a 15 year capital plan with a key focus on investment in schools, roads and flood schemes.
“The current capital plan recognises the need for affordability and sustainability, with a focus on reducing and maintaining current assets, rather than growing the council’s asset base.
Last summer optimism was high that a site near Inverness Campus would be perfect for the project which had an ambition for it to simply get more people riding bikes more often.
It had been hoped the project – centred on an indoor 200m velodrome – would have been open in autumn 2023.
But the ground-breaking HIVELOHUB project has been abandoned further to a recent Highland Velodrome Trust meeting.
A spokesman for the Highland Cycle Campaign said it was sad to see that the plans had come to an end.
He added: “It was going to be more than a velodrome it was also a community hub.
“I would encourage people to go along to the AGM and see if the organisation can go in a new direction.”
Residents have also commented on social media after the latest development was announced over the weekend.
Gerry Reynolds commented and said: “This cancellation is not unexpected. Just surprised it took so long to see sense. The Highland cycling community may have liked the idea but that was never enough to make this white elephant financially sustainable.”
However, Steve Donaldson of Nairn said he was disappointed and added: “This is a massive step in the wrong direction for a country that should be increasing opportunities to gain skills for active travel.
“It would also have provided the next generation of athletes in the region the possibility to train without travelling to the central belt.”
HiVelo SCIO was registered as a Scottish charity in 2015 with the over-riding objective of fostering “the creation and operation of a safe cycling development ‘hub’ centred on a velodrome provided for the benefit of all inhabitants of the Highlands of Scotland and such other persons who are studying, working or visiting in that area”.
Trust secretary Mike Greaves said: “Sadly, our lengthy discussions to secure a large block of ‘foundation’ grant assistance for HIVELOHUB from the national sports agencies – principally sportscotland – have not been successful.
“The trustees could not be more disappointed with this outcome, but we need to be realistic about its impact on HiVelo itself. Plainly, our founding mission [above] is now untenable.
“HiVelo has reached a major crossroads. One option would be to fall on our swords and to seek approval for a motion to dissolve the SCIO at the upcoming AGM. Alternatively, application could be made to the Scottish Charities Regulator (OSCR) to vary our remit to better reflect a future role providing support services, events and youth development initiatives serving the wider Highland cycling community.”
Mr Geaves said its future now lay in the hands of the north cycling community and added: “HiVelo can only prosper with some new faces drawn from the clubs and wider cycling world who are prepared to put back into our wonderful pastime and sport.
“A number of the existing trustees have now reached an age where health and family commitments must finally take priority. They will be standing down at the AGM, but we would welcome enquiries from anyone willing to help take the organisation in its new direction.”
A spokesman for sportscotland said: “We are committed to working with our local and national partners to improve facilities in communities across the country, including the Highlands, through our capital investment programmes. Along with our partners, we share an ambition to provide more opportunities for people to get active in their local communities.
“We have been engaged in discussions on the HiVelo project for some time now. However, we continue to have concerns over the demand for and financial viability of the full proposal. Any future capital contribution would also need to be considered in the context of any Highland-wide facility investment plans.
“We will continue to work with our partners to develop and support proposals which meet demand and locally determined investment priorities.”
• The AGM is set to be held online at 7pm on February 24. Email Mr Greaves at mikeg888@btinternet.com if you would like to be involved.
