A debate at Penrith Town Council this week over plans for a permanent pump track sparked controversy after a councillor questioned whether “there are that many lonely kids in Penrith”, following reports that hundreds of children had used a recent pop-up track.
The pop-up pump track—described by some councillors as a “cycle track with humps and bumps”—was temporarily installed at Penrith Leisure Centre by Westmorland and Furness Council as part of an initiative to gauge interest in such a facility.
During the meeting, Cllr Mark Rudhall, Libdem deputy chair of Westmorland and Furness Council and a Penrith Town Council member, informed councillors that approximately 500 children had used the track over the course of a weekend.
In response, Cllr Roger Burgin - Libdem Penrith South ward councillor, while laughing asked, “Are there that many lonely kids in Penrith?” His question was met with an awkward silence from other councillors, broken only by a nervous laugh from one councillor who pointed out that the usage figures demonstrated a clear interest in a permanent pump track in Penrith.
The Town Council is the latest body to express interest in developing a pump track, following earlier efforts by community group Evolve Penrith, who launched their own survey last year attracting over 400 responses. Westmorland and Furness Council has also recently launched its own public consultation and funded the temporary track.
Penrith Town Council has now agreed to fund a consultant to assess potential locations and demand—despite similar work already being undertaken by Evolve Penrith and Westmorland and Furness Council.
A spokesperson for Evolve Penrith welcomed the town council’s involvement but expressed disappointment over the lack of collaboration. “It’s good to see the town council finally catching up with the work Evolve Penrith has been progressing for over a year,” the spokesperson said. “But it’s disappointing they have failed to engage with us and understand the stage we’re at. Collaboration is something we are always open to, but the council appears to want to jump on its own bike and reinvent the wheel—at taxpayers' expense, unfortunately.”
The spokesperson also criticised the tone and language used by councillors during the discussion. “It was very disappointing and concerning to hear the project described as ‘a cycle track with humps and bumps’ and to hear young people who want to use such a facility described as ‘lonely’. This reflects a misunderstanding of what a pump track is and who it serves, and raises questions about whether the town council is the right body to lead this project.”
Despite the comments, the council agreed to move forward with its own feasibility study, as community pressure and widespread interest continue to mount in support of a permanent pump track for Penrith.
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