Herne Hill article

I don't want to misquote Pete, especially with JC around, but his view on the roof idea is not positive, mainly on cost grounds.

Yeah, there are no plans for a roof any more. Those drawings are from the failed 2003 plans - which were put together by a team not involved with the new plans. The current plans are less grandiose and therefore, more affordable!

Presumably, if the finance could be found, people would still be in favour of a roof?

However, it's clearly not a priority, given the long list of needs.

If you're going to stick a roof on, why not go the whole hog and build an indoor velodrome?

Because it's even more costly and a roof would be a compromise allowing more track time, too?

@ andyp's post
...in Stratford.

It's the football pitch in the middle that annoys me, surely theres already enough football pitches in London.

If it was getting re layed couldn't they use an all weather surface (think they use them in Japan) then you wouldn't need a roof and would probably be cheaper.

@ andyp's post
...in Stratford.

Why not build two in London? You could introduce a generation of kids to cycling in a safe (and fun) environment. The health and environmental benefits would easily out weigh the cost.

My bump today was really only to post the article. Is it 'new news' that Studio E are the company who may have been approached?

Why not build two in London? You could introduce a generation of kids to cycling in a safe (and fun) environment. The health and environmental benefits would easily out weigh the cost.

Yes, absolutely. I was just being trite.

Why not build more than two in London?

Fixed. No reason to believe that there isn't room for more. I take it you're not saying that you'd like to see one built at HH, though? I really like the fact that it's an outdoor track.

If it was getting re layed couldn't they use an all weather surface (think they use them in Japan) then you wouldn't need a roof and would probably be cheaper.

Sound interesting, what is this all weather surface made of?

The current surface was meant to be pretty much all weather. I remember racing on it in the rain 5 or so years after it was laid. Evidently it degrades pretty quickly.

There's no derise for a football pitch in the middle. We want a cycling specific site, the track centre would be used for bike polo and more off road obstacles.

If funds were unlimited then a half roof might be nice. But that'd bring up a whole new planning permission obstacle. Its not a massive deal. Last year there were only a few events canceled by rain. Others were affected by damp and dew, but a half roof wouldn't make much difference for that, and tbh would keep the track in the cool shade for longer. If it was retractable, who would retract it? Would there be someone sitting there 24/7 ready to put the roof down if it started raining at 4am on a chilly March morning.

I believe the answer to both those questions is Dave C. ;-)

Ha! Actually he's been in hibernation this winter, he hasn't been to the track since like, October!

Studio E : looking at their website it seems they have specialised in 'sustainability', and have designed a fair few sports facilities and schools. So, all good so far. I assume the main work done by any architects would be to plan spectator stands and some support buildings like storage and changing facilities, not really actually doing anything radical to the track. The questions of surfacing choice are more the decision of BC and VCL, right?

Anyway I guess it's all a looong way off.

turn that central area into a skidddzzz arena for tricks and ting

I did some work with Studio E while they were getting City Academy Hackney done. A good bunch, and Andrzej certainly knows what he's doing.