Update on Huncote's BMX track

The safe removal of BMX track equipment from Huncote’s closed BMX facility is starting this weekend.

Huncote Hornets BMX Club will be clearing the site of some equipment, such as start and finish gates, on 5 and 6 October. Blaby District Council will monitor activity to ensure the site remains safe.

Along with Huncote Leisure Centre itself, and the wider site, the track was closed off in November 2021 when elevated levels of methane gas were discovered, a result of the area’s former use as landfill. 

While the rest of the site reopened following remedial work the track has remained shut off. Movement of waste underground has meant the land has remained unstable, whilst landfill gas levels have continued to fluctuate.  

The complexity of these issues means significant monitoring and management is required going forwards to maintain a safe, well controlled site.

Councillors discussed the future use of the site at a Full Council meeting in May 2024, voting to return the land to public open space. This requires further work on the land to ensure it is in a safe state prior to reopening it, the clearance of some of the BMX club’s equipment is the first phase of this work.

Councillor Terry Richardson, Leader of Blaby District Council, said: “The nature of the contaminated land unfortunately means the site is no longer suitable for its former use.

“The Huncote Hornets are now removing their equipment following the end of their lease. 

“We have had no choice but to look at other options for the future of the land. 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.”

Councillor Terry Richardson
Leader of the Council