Cycling campaigners have announced a date for the handover of their 6,000-signature petition to construct a new velodrome in the West Midlands.
The campaign, which has been running since last year, is calling for a new training and development velodrome to be built in the region , to make sure Birmingham 2022 has a 'wonderful legacy'.
And, writing in an open letter, lead campaigner David Viner announced that the petition will be handed over in public to leader of the council Ian Ward on April 15.
Back in December 2017 it was announced that track cycling events for the Commonwealth Games would be hosted 130 miles away, at the Lea Valley Velodrome in London.
The decision was the subject of some debate toward the end of last year, with the Birmingham 2022 team claiming that a West Midlands velodrome was ruled out by a feasibility study which was subsequently found not to exist.
It has since been revealed that a new competition velodrome was ruled out for a number of reasons including finances, demand and timescale. However, this has not stopped cycling campaigners calling for a training velodrome to be constructed instead, to encourage grassroots cycling across the region.
The petition has so far gained over 6,000 signatures, with high-profile figures from across the world of cycling backing the campaign.
And, ahead of the handover, David Viner thanked the public for their support so far.
“The Commonwealth Games are going to be a superb opportunity for Birmingham and the West Midlands but it is such a shame that the track cycling is to be held in London," he said.
"The new aquatics centre in Sandwell with 5,000 seats for the Games and retaining just 1,000 seats afterwards is a perfect example of how a competition velodrome arena, costing £35m, with a similar seating plan could have been built for 2022.
"Councillor Ward has an open mind and has engaged with us. Now we hope the feasibility plan will prove there is a strong case for a modest training and development velodrome arena, with room in the track centre for multi-community based sports including disabled and sight impaired sports.
"We have benefited from firm support from many local people and we thank every person who has supported the petition.
"We have velodrome experts on hand and there is still time to get the velodrome built in time for the Games.”
"I think it is important that our campaign is viewed as working with Birmingham City Council to get a velodrome and get a great legacy.
"The campaign is not just a protest."
