THE newly reformed West Devon Warriors BMX Club is desperately seeking two acres of land in the Tavistock area for use as a professional race facility.
TV presenter and former Tavistock College student Steve Wilson, 34, and Alan Ewell, 36, have been riding together for 25 years and recently managed to put the club back on the map after it disbanded in the 90s.
Steve, chairman of West Devon Warriors, who recently returned to Tavistock to live, said: 'We had a very successful meeting with Hannah Colstone at West Devon Borough Council, the outcome of which is that they are backing us in our mission to get a National Standard BMX race track in Tavistock.
'We also have somewhere in the region of 100 potential members ready to join the club if we can be assured of gaining a BMX race facility — this is a very high number for any sport, and we are so pleased with the overwhelming interest, and the support from other bicycle clubs whose members will be joining the West Devon Warriors to race BMX.'
But before the club can move that one step closer to its dream, land is desperately being sought.
Unfortunately, the council has no available spare land for the group to use, and the sports project at Crowndale has an alternative use for a triangular piece of land that the group was hoping to be able to use next to the football club.
Steve said: 'We need ideally two acres of land, of any shape whatsoever, to rent for use as a professional BMX race facility of a national standard.
'We would use the land for a fenced track, a parking area, and a small amount of land surrounding the track for spectating.
'We already have the expertise and available equipment to design and build the track, but just need a landowner in the Tavistock area willing to agree to a long-term lease of some land for this important project for Devon's youth cyclists and a growing Olympic sport.'
A national standard race track in Tavistock could see up to 1,000 people on each race weekend throughout the year visiting Tavistock, said Steve.
To contact West Devon Warriors email [email protected]">[email protected]