Council told athletics track 'unfit for purpose'

Concerns have been raised over the poor state of a running track which an athletics club says is putting some young athletes at risk of injury.

The athletics club at the Prince of Wales Stadium in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, is calling on Cheltenham Borough Council to invest in the site.

A total of 24 potential licensed competitions have not been held there since it failed the TrackMark accreditation test by England Athletics in 2022.

The council said it does not currently have a capital fund set aside to replace the track - which was estimated to cost £489,000 in October 2024.

Jane Woolley is team manager for the under 17s and under 20s at the Cheltenham and County Harriers Athletics team.

At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, she told councillors: "I am severely disappointed to see their training facilities are still in poor condition, contributing to some injuries our athletes are suffering.

"Our club is producing some national standard junior athletes, and spends in excess of £50,000 per year for hiring the training facility which is currently unfit for purpose, but there is no alternative."

Finance and assets cabinet member Peter Jeffries said he recognised both Leisure at Cheltenham and the Prince of Wales were ageing facilities.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the authority has recently commissioned an assessment of the sites and a financial appraisal.

He added the track was last refurbished in 2012, at which time the track surface was re-topped with a 4mm layer of 'crumb', designed to extend the life of the track.

Councillor Izaac Tailford said: "Whilst we acknowledge that the track does not currently meet the UK Athletics competition standard, it remains open and accessible to users, meets all relevant health and safety requirements, and continues to provide an affordable entry to athletes."

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