10 signatures reached
To: Hillingdon Council
Save Field End Flyers Community Cycle Club
Stop the Head Teacher of Field End Junior School form closing down the Cycle Track used by Field End Flyers Community Cycle Club and the after school Cycle Club.
Why is this important?
I am a concerned parent. My 8 year old son Matthew attends Field End Flyers Community Cycle Club. This a fantastic cycling club that is based in facilities at Field End Junior School, Field End Road, Eastcote.
The Club has access to a cycle track next to Field End School. This was built next to the school in land held by Hillingdon Council for the school. TFL helped to fund the building of the cycle track which is used by lots of children to cycle in safety away from the roads.
Field End Flyers meets there every Saturday. There are coaches who are trained by British Cycling and volunteer their time to teach all children to cycle. Once they can cycle safely they join in the club activities. There are games and skills teaching sessions, all conducted in a purpose built environment. As a cycle club Field End Flyers attracts children from all backgrounds. We have children with disabilities and those with learning difficulties. The fact that the track is a safe and gated secure environment means that all children can enjoy using their own or borrowed bikes and trikes to join in. This club really is open to all and a fantastic part of our community.
The club has a waiting list of over 60 children to join up and be taught to ride with the patient coaches using club owned balance bikes without pedals to build confidence and get a “feel” for cycling.
My son joined over 3 years ago and is a very competent cyclist. He shows a good level of safety and control and this is all due to the fantastic coaching from Field End Flyers Community Cycle Club.
The school has achieved the Beacon Award for Cycling, Healthy Schools Hillingdon Award and TFL Sustainable Travel Accredited and recognised Higher Standards Level.
I feel that this is due to the success of the Cycle track which is also used by an after school club attached to the school for pupils only. 30 children attend 3 evenings a week. In fact the after school club is used to full capacity with the supervision from the British Cycling accredited Coaches who volunteer there.
On Thursday 3rd December Field End Flyers received a letter from the Head Teacher of the Junior School, Ms M Halpin to say that the Cycle Club should cease. We have since been told we need to empty the site of our bicycles (for Children’s use at the Community and after school clubs) and associated cycling equipment. It will be disposed of if not moved by the deadline.
We have been told that both clubs must close.
We have been told that the track will be used to store building materials and there are plans to develop the area by the school BUT I have checked the Hillingdon Council website and there are no planning applications for the area.
As you can imagine the Club which has over 90 members is worried that we will lose our home and a safe place for our children to cycle.
Hillingdon encourages cycling as a sustainable mode of transport. Recently there has been widespread media attention on those cyclists who have been killed or injured on London’s roads. Our cycle club is preparing the safe adult cyclists of the future. It is also helping to get children outside and involved in a healthy pursuit, helping to extol the virtues of exercise.
With child obesity and sedentary hobbies in favour among children it is wonderful that the children who attend the club are enjoying exercise, team building, safety training and friendships that will help them so much in their futures.
I ask that you contact Ms Halpin to intercede on behalf of our Community Cycle Club as its loss would be a real blow to sport, cycling and the children themselves.
The Club has access to a cycle track next to Field End School. This was built next to the school in land held by Hillingdon Council for the school. TFL helped to fund the building of the cycle track which is used by lots of children to cycle in safety away from the roads.
Field End Flyers meets there every Saturday. There are coaches who are trained by British Cycling and volunteer their time to teach all children to cycle. Once they can cycle safely they join in the club activities. There are games and skills teaching sessions, all conducted in a purpose built environment. As a cycle club Field End Flyers attracts children from all backgrounds. We have children with disabilities and those with learning difficulties. The fact that the track is a safe and gated secure environment means that all children can enjoy using their own or borrowed bikes and trikes to join in. This club really is open to all and a fantastic part of our community.
The club has a waiting list of over 60 children to join up and be taught to ride with the patient coaches using club owned balance bikes without pedals to build confidence and get a “feel” for cycling.
My son joined over 3 years ago and is a very competent cyclist. He shows a good level of safety and control and this is all due to the fantastic coaching from Field End Flyers Community Cycle Club.
The school has achieved the Beacon Award for Cycling, Healthy Schools Hillingdon Award and TFL Sustainable Travel Accredited and recognised Higher Standards Level.
I feel that this is due to the success of the Cycle track which is also used by an after school club attached to the school for pupils only. 30 children attend 3 evenings a week. In fact the after school club is used to full capacity with the supervision from the British Cycling accredited Coaches who volunteer there.
On Thursday 3rd December Field End Flyers received a letter from the Head Teacher of the Junior School, Ms M Halpin to say that the Cycle Club should cease. We have since been told we need to empty the site of our bicycles (for Children’s use at the Community and after school clubs) and associated cycling equipment. It will be disposed of if not moved by the deadline.
We have been told that both clubs must close.
We have been told that the track will be used to store building materials and there are plans to develop the area by the school BUT I have checked the Hillingdon Council website and there are no planning applications for the area.
As you can imagine the Club which has over 90 members is worried that we will lose our home and a safe place for our children to cycle.
Hillingdon encourages cycling as a sustainable mode of transport. Recently there has been widespread media attention on those cyclists who have been killed or injured on London’s roads. Our cycle club is preparing the safe adult cyclists of the future. It is also helping to get children outside and involved in a healthy pursuit, helping to extol the virtues of exercise.
With child obesity and sedentary hobbies in favour among children it is wonderful that the children who attend the club are enjoying exercise, team building, safety training and friendships that will help them so much in their futures.
I ask that you contact Ms Halpin to intercede on behalf of our Community Cycle Club as its loss would be a real blow to sport, cycling and the children themselves.
