BMX track shut by landfill gas to be cleared

A BMX track which has sat unused for almost three years will start to be cleared this weekend.

Huncote Leisure Centre, where the Leicestershire track is based, was shut in November 2021 due to a landfill gas problem.

Blaby District Council re-opened the leisure centre in October the following year and gas levels on nearby land was deemed safe in August 2023.

But the land housing the BMX track has remained closed, and in March the Huncote Hornets BMX Club was served notice that the council would not allow them to return.

In May, the council voted to return the site to public open space when it is safe to do so.

The £100,000 track, which was funded by the National Lottery and Sport England, hosted the British BMX Championships a few months before it was forced to close.

But on Saturday and Sunday the club will begin clearing equipment including the start and finish gates.

The council said it would monitor activity to ensure the site, where gas level monitoring has shown fluctuations in methane emissions, remained safe while clearance took place.

Council leader Terry Richardson said the contaminated land was no longer suitable for its former use.

He added: “We are pleased that we made the decision for the land to remain as public open space and look forward to it being open to the public again.

“However, we do have some work to do before it is safe to do.”

Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.