Last November we wrote about FlyUp 417 Bike Park temporarily closing its doors from November 4th, 2024, to March 29th, 2025. This closure is a result of ongoing discussions with National Highways regarding the A417 Missing Link project, which necessitates construction work on their operational land. It seems they are being forced into a proposal where all park users—including vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians—should share a single-lane driveway. This is viewed as fundamentally unsafe putting the re-opening of the bike park in jeopardy. They are asking for you to email with your views, concerns and support to National Highways. Email template and instructions below:
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The updated challenge
We have just spotted this update on their socials that explains the situation and where they need our help:
It's proving increasingly difficult to reason with National Highways regarding the plan for the 417 Bike Park post-reopening in March. As it stands, the only solution Highways have mustered to the issues caused by their land take, is for every single person who comes onto the land, whether on two wheels, four wheels, or foot, to use the same single-track road which is situated on a bend at the bottom of a steep hill.
If National Highways continue to refuse the facilities that we need to operate as we were pre-closure, we will be reopening without an uplift service on March 29th.
Amidst issues of compensation, safety concerns, and an ongoing fight for our voices to be heard, we're also facing personal battles. Over Christmas, founder and father of five, Simon, was sadly diagnosed with cancer. As he and his family come to terms with this news, they continue to face a wall of disruption, both personally and professionally, as a result of ongoing issues with National Highways.
We ask that you fight our corner and urge you to draw attention to our concerns by emailing a417missinglinkatairballoon@nationalhighways.co.uk
Thank you for your continued and lasting support. It means so much to us in a time which seems so impossible to navigate.
Email template
To help there is a template to forward the email to them here written by one of the helpful members of the community:
Subject: Urgent: Safety and Operational Concerns Regarding Proposed Solution for 417 Bike Park
Dear National Highways Team,
As a regular visitor and user of 417 Bike Park, this issue directly impacts me, and I feel compelled to raise my concerns.
I am writing to formally express serious concerns regarding the current proposed solution for 417 Bike Park in light of the ongoing development works. As it stands, the proposed plan does not provide a viable or safe alternative to the original commitments made by National Highways, and its implementation would have severe consequences for both public safety and the continued operation of the bike park.
Key Issues:
1. Safety Risks – The suggestion that all park users—including vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians—should share a single-lane driveway is fundamentally unsafe. This configuration presents an unacceptable risk of collisions and injuries. Two independent reports have confirmed that this arrangement is hazardous, yet National Highways has refused to acknowledge these findings.
2. Failure to Honour Commitments – As per Requirement 11, National Highways originally committed to providing a temporary building and car park to mitigate the impact of land lost to construction. This was deemed the most cost-effective and practical solution, yet it has now been scrapped without proper justification. National Highways must fulfil its commitment to provide the necessary infrastructure for the bike park to function safely and efficiently.
3. Operational Impact & Business Viability – The removal of the access track without a proper alternative has rendered the current uplift system non-functional. Without a viable access route, the bike park will not be able to reopen as planned on 29th March. National Highways’ expectation that the park operators should somehow resolve this issue themselves is unreasonable, particularly given the disruption caused by the ongoing works.
4. Lack of Compensation – Despite being forced to close during construction, the bike park is only receiving 90% of its previous year's income in compensation. This does not account for business growth, inflation, or the additional costs incurred due to the disruption. A fair compensation structure must be implemented to reflect the full financial impact on the business.
Requested Actions:
• Immediate reconsideration of the proposed single-lane shared driveway arrangement, as it is demonstrably unsafe and unworkable.
• Urgent engagement with the bike park operators to develop a realistic and safe access solution before the reopening deadline.
• Review of the compensation structure to reflect the actual financial impact of the closure.
The bike park is an essential facility for the community, and National Highways must uphold its obligations to ensure its safe and sustainable operation. I urge you to take immediate action to rectify this situation before it causes irreparable damage.
I look forward to your prompt response and a commitment to working towards a fair resolution.
Yours sincerely,
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