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I think it's good the folks want to develop the site and put more things in it.
Ultimately if they do put chunkier features in they will need a different approach to safety and the site might end up being pay to play to fund additional staff. This may not be a bad thing, unless the trails are shit, because nobody will pay.
Personally I think qualifier features are a sub standard approach to risk management but perhaps that's the best they can do with the resource they have.
Personally I think the south east desperately needs a dedicated trail center similar to the scope of BPW - the grass roots efforts at Swinley and the 'will they be there next week?' trails of Surrey are fantastic but aren't enough to sustain growth and development and are under increasing pressure.
Howard-
I think that qualifiers have a certain utility in that it is a useful warning for any rider entering a trail for the first time to assess their own ability before descending.
But on the other hand it can be seen as purely obstructive for if, as with BPW, you cannot get around a qualifier feature without clambering over a wall or fence then a rider's ability to progress might be hindered if they intend to session the trail & its individual sections to be able to achieve riding the whole thing.
Qualifiers could be seen as an underestandable kneejerk reaction to the high levels of injuries occurring on black and red runs by unprepared, unskilled riders at BPW. Far easier to collect the injured at the trailhead than halfway down Dai Hard after the boulder drops I suppose.
And yes, the south-east could do with a dedicated bike park and trail center like BPW. Aston Hill is a long way there as regards quality and variety of trails but just needs facilities (cafe, toilets, bike shop/bike hire, etc) and an uplift. But who knows if that will ever happen.
What places like BPW possess that does not seem replicated in the south-east is funding & resources available through being a thoroughly deprived area that can be spun into a bike tourist destination. As with Afan Forest Park, Coed-Y-Brenin, Llandegla, etc. Many of these locations benefitted from EU funding.Considering that we might consider building some hills in Peckham a la the London Olympics MTB venue and apply for a European development grant. :-)
t_w
Yes, for clarity I should have responded to individual comments. Instead I targeted you all as a grouchy lumpen mass. :-D
My response was more specifically for @Jimm and @MarthaFarcuss. Just wanted to include others who have commented on this specific topic to have an interesting discussion. :-)