PMBA

Things are progressing really well with the plans for the new trail head hub for Lee and Cragg Quarries. Ride On in Rawtenstall have come through the initial stages of the Rossendale Borough Council selection process submitting a top quality development bid, beating off a number of other submissions, to secure preferred bidder status. The criteria to determine the successful bid was varied and complex but included obvious things such as value for money but also took into account what the bidder was proposing to do to put something back into the trails so we didn't just end up with a retail outlet making money off the back of all the hard work and investment that Lancs CC and Tony Lund have put into making the quarries such a successful venue. P.M.B.A. fully endorses the selection of Ride On as the preferred bidder given the shop teams close personal ties with the local riding scene as well as the continued practical support they've put into the quarry developments.

Craig Robertson, owner of Ride On, updated the Adrenaline Gateway Steering Team during it's bi-monthly meeting on monday the 5th, with progress to date. Having preferred bidder status under their belt and most of the legals hammered out with R.B.C. (pending final agreement), team Ride On is now well into the detailed planning stage for the development. Craig is hoping to be able to be able to submit and get approved a detailed planning application before the end of 2012. With planning in place Craig is hopeful funding can be sorted by Easter 2013 with spades going into the ground in mid 2013. The development is expected to take around 10 months to construct leading to a a provisional opening date for Spring or Early Summer 2014 to coincide with the start of the mountain biking season (alright many of you will ride through the winter but a lot of people come out of hibernation when the weather gets that little bit better).

Details of what's being planned are being kept under wraps at the moment but aside from the obvious relocation and expansion of Ride On's retail and workshop facilities, a cafe has also been mentioned with the associated facilities, better car parking provision, an events area and provision for mountain bike coaching with a base for groups wanting to use the quarry for training and events. As soon as the formal planning application has been submitted we'll put the details up on her for you to browse.

In meanwhile those of you who regularly use the quarry, you will have noticed the arrival of two permanent, temporary toilets provided courtesy of Rossendale Borough Council. After some tooing and frowing with worries over the likelihood of the blue stuff freezing the decisions been made to leave them in place throughout the Winter as well.  Improved trail signage was also installed earlier in the year and R.B.C. are currently in discussion with Lancashire County Council and the Highways Agency to try and get better road signage up so people can actually find Futures Park and the Trailhead.

P.M.B.A. have also been working quietly behind the scenes with Tony Lund to develop more riding opportunities around the quarries and further afield. Plans are now coming to fruition with details to follow in the next couple of weeks.