WORK has begun on an off-road cycle sport track at a historic park in Rossendale as part of a masterplan to revive the venue.

Contractors have started preparations for the ‘pump track’ at Stubbylee Park, the former family seat of North East Lancashire MP James Maden Holt.

Council bosses then hope to revamp the park’s duck pond and the nearby Fairy Dell, with tenders currently being secured for the work.

The announcement comes just weeks after the Lancashire Telegraph revealed that the former Accrington and Rossendale campus in Stubbylee Barn was set to be transformed into a community education and and cinema hub by Bacup Consortium Trust.

Welcoming the cycling project, Cllr Christine Lamb, deputy council leader, said: “I am pleased to see work progressing on the pump track at Stubbylee Park at Bacup.

“Now I’m looking forward to the next stage of the masterplan, which will see the restoration of the duck pond and the magical Fairy Dell over the next few months.”

The park has previously played host to a ‘pop-up’ pump track, on the tennis courts there, to give a flavour of what is envisaged.

A Rossendale Council spokesman said: “This allowed local people to come and try out a track for themselves and also give any feedback and thoughts on the plans.”

Council officers then worked with Newground to secure £32,000 funding from Lancashire Environment Fund to design and build the finished version.

Rochdale-based Dirtwork, which has completed a number of similar ventures in the area, has been enlisted to carry out the initiative.

The building work is expected to take around four weeks, subject to any

interference from the weather.

Part of the community hub proposals also involves the creation of a working kitchen, to support a cafe, with volunteering opportunities being offered at the nearby Stubbylee Community Greenhouses.

Under the masterplan, supported by ward councillors, Bacup Pride and the park’s friends group, gym equipment and a play area has been established to the south of the park and, with assistance from the borough’s Up & Active project, a one-mile routed walk is becoming popular around Stubbylee.

The new Rossendale to Rochdale Cycleway, part of a £2million leg of the Valley of Stone greenway through the valley, will also pass through the west of the park.