Council halts progress on bike park at Chewton Bunny

Christchurch Borough Council has decided not to progress proposals to build a mountain bike park at Chewton Bunny in Highcliffe at this time due to uncertainties over land ownership.

A consultation on proposals to improve the area including a mountain bike park, newly resurfaced paths and picnic area ran from 28 November 2011 to 3 February 2012.

The results of the consultation were due to be discussed at a Community Services Committee on 29 February with a planning application for the development going to Planning Control Committee the following day, if Community Services decided to go ahead with the scheme.

However, during the consultation some questions have arisen about the ownership of the area where the proposed development would take place. Until the ownership questions have been resolved the Council has put the decision on whether to go ahead with the proposals on hold.

Matti Raudsepp, Head of Leisure and Open Spaces at the Christchurch and East Dorset Partnership, said: "It is fair to say that this consultation has produced a lot of strong feelings with people coming out very definitely in favour or against the proposals.

"The results of the consultation are still being analysed but, at first glance, it would appear that the results are fairly balanced. This would certainly indicate to us that there is a definite demand for a mountain biking facility of the kind proposed in Christchurch. We therefore need to consider how we might meet this demand, whether it is in Chewton Bunny or elsewhere.

"We will be looking to resolve the ownership issues as quickly as possible so that a decision can be made on whether or not the matter can be considered by the Community Services Committee in due course."