Review for Hadleigh Park Mountain Bike Trail Centre

A few years ago, there was an opportunity for the bike park to bring in a new contractor to manage the trails and enhance the experience for riders and the general public. Descent Bike Parks, who have successfully run events across Essex and Kent, pitched for this contract. We have a team of experienced builders with extensive knowledge, supported by professional athletes in the sport.

Our track record speaks for itself - we have built trails successfully used by pro riders including Sam Pilgrim, Josh Lowe, Tom Cardy and Carly & Harry Malloy. We also constructed fixed kicker ramps for The Bull Track in Crowborough (Alvar Coppard), which was featured in the Bull Send with a full video available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtFX6Drb9Mk&ab_channel=HoultDesignandMedia - This event attracted people far and wide, raised great money for local businesses who has stalls set up on site.

After attending the meeting and presenting our plans, the initial response was very promising. However, we quickly discovered that the £500,000 grant available would be largely absorbed by materials costs alone. The specialised sand required was three times the usual cost, as it was only available from a supplier up north - meaning no support for local businesses. Additionally, the brief was limited to trail maintenance only, with no new features allowed. This approach would never enable riders to progress or attract new participants to the sport.

Our proposal included more technical trails, varied jump features (tabletops and gaps), and even airbag facilities for special events. We were also committed to raising money for local charities, having previously supported SNAP charity in Brentwood, which assists local residents with real needs.

After extensive correspondence, we received the disappointing news that another contractor had been selected. We had hoped there was someone offering more comprehensive services than us, but unfortunately, a drainage company was awarded the contract. Since then, we've witnessed a decline in the park's condition, with features being removed or left in dangerous states, leading to fewer visits and poor reviews.

Would we consider trying again? Perhaps - if there's another opportunity to properly enhance this facility for the riding community.

The space