RESIDENTS and a local councillor are attempting to bring a pump track to Kendal.

Councillor Eamonn Hennessey became involved with the idea after a resident broached the subject at a Kendal Town Council meeting.

Since then a Facebook group has been formed with lots of locals expressing their desire for a track.

“She spoke to us to say that she felt it would be beneficial to Kendal and would be something that would be well used,” said Cllr Hennessy.

“We set up the social media page and now there’s nearly 170 members so it was apparent there’s a desire for it.

“There’s a lot of people in that group that have made an attempt before to put something in place but had come across various stumbling blocks.”

Rory Black, from Kendal Cycle Club, said his team had been working on getting Kendal a pump track for two years.

“Having a pump track in Kendal would be a great place for adults and children to go to cycle in a safe environment,” he said.

“It’s for all ages.

“You get kids on balance bikes down there from the age of three up to adults, so there is something for everyone.

“Pump tracks are really good because you don’t need a lot of space.”

The pump track at Ingleton is currently the closest facility to Kendal and is very popular with Kendal and even Ulverston residents travelling to use the facility.

“You get so many people going to the one in Ingleton,” said Mr Black.

“I’ve got friends who drive all the way from Kendal so if we could have one in Kendal that could potentially draw more people to the town.”

Mr Black said the current issue with the plans was trying to identify land for the development.

“That’s the biggest factor at the moment,” he said.

Cllr Hennessy also said that in order for the idea to move forward several locations would need to be identified, before approaching the land owner, overcoming any concerns and starting to raise funds.

“Pump tracks are relatively low cost so the key thing will be finding the location,” he said.

“We will look back at previous negotiations with regards to specific locations and identify a dozen or so of our own sites.

“And then we will approach the landowner.”