REVISED plans by a group which wants to build a pump track would see the project use more than half-an-acre of Wellington Recreation Ground.

The group has switched its plans from a field at The Basins near an existing skatepark to a plot next to the recreation ground children’s play area.

Town councillors will be asked on Wednesday (August 20) to give their backing in principle to the scheme.

Council chief executive Dave Farrow said support from councillors would allow more work to be done on the pump track design and its costings.

Mr Farrow said final proposals would still need approval by the council, which took ownership of the recreation ground in April, before a planning application could be submitted.

He said the project was being worked up by Wellington Sports Federation, which was developing provision for wheeled sports in the town.

Sports federation project lead Olly Edmonston-Lowe said work on the 142-yard pump track plans, which grew from a desire to improve facilities for BMX riders, was now in its third year.

Mr Edmonston-Lowe said: “A pump track will not only meet the target audience of BMX riders, but also the needs of many other wheeled sports users across the ages.”

He said a survey carried out in 2023 showed 266 of the 273 people who responded thought Wellington would benefit from having a free facility such as a pump track.

Mr Edmonston-Lowe said the advantage of using the recreation ground was that it was central to the town and close to several schools and other wheeled sports areas, would enhance the area and draw more people to use its facilities, and could be seen and enjoyed from Wellington Park.