A BMX enthusiast has hit out at Carlisle City Council over the new pump cycle track which he says is not as advertised.

Steve Wilson, a resident of the Fusehill Street area, found the pump bike track on Dale End Field is “disappointing” and feels the new development is not what was planned and promised.

Mr Wilson has posted a video on Facebook explaining his issues with the new track which can be used by BMX bikes and skateboards.

Speaking to the News & Star, he said that the track is a “sheer disappointment” for him and his friends.

“It’s a very small, poorly designed pump track that is not very suitable for anyone really, there’s been a whole bunch of us that were really excited about having a pump track in the city.”

Pump tracks are a special kind of course, composed of a circuit of sharply banked turns and small steep hills.

“Everyone was really excited about that.”

“When the news reports came out there was a grant of £30,000 along with the community raising money for it. The fact that it’s as bad as it is, how did it get to be the way it is?”

Funding for the track was raised by members of the local community working with council officers. This included a grant of £30,000 provided by the Cumbria Waste Management Environment Trust, part of Cumbria Waste Group.

He pointed out that the track was designed to be beneficial for physical fitness but that it is too small to be challenging.

Mr Wilson said: “The build quality is pretty poor. It is like it’s been built by contractors who’ve never built a pump track before.”

Steve hopes his video sparks action from the city council with improvements made to the existing pump track. He currently travels to Keswick and Whinlatter to make use of tracks there.

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Carlisle City Council spokesperson said: “We consulted on the design of the pump track with local residents and other interested parties prior to any works starting.

“We then put in place a scheme that met those needs within the available budget.

“This is very much a community-led project and is aimed at younger children and not adults. Works are still underway on the site and in the meantime, we ask that any concerns are raised with us direct.”

An up and coming skateboarder, Will Latimer has also contacted the city council in disappointment at the size of the track: “As a 14-year-old in Carlisle I can’t convey enough how disappointing this is, children get criticised in the media for hanging around on bikes and skateboards and yet we have nowhere good to go.”