Warley Bike Park, the volunteer-built dirt jump and bike park at Warley Gap near Brentwood, Essex, is set to stay after Brentwood Borough Council passed a motion to retain it at its Full Council meeting on 23 September 2026, a vote Essex Live reports was unanimous.

The site's future had been uncertain for years, with a petition to save it first launched in 2019 and now carrying almost 5,000 signatures. Essex Live reports that the air ambulance has been called to the site twice following serious accidents, and the motion acknowledges that "valid questions regarding health, safety, and potential legal liability have been raised". But it concludes that "standard physical risks associated with outdoor activities can be effectively managed without requiring the closure of the facility."

What the council agreed

The motion as published in the council's agenda, moved by Cllr Bakhsh and seconded by Cllr Quirk, resolves to:

• Retain the bicycle track at Warley Gap and explore all avenues to prevent its permanent closure
• Address any health and safety or liability concerns through "balanced, practical risk-management measures"
• Partner with track users, families and the wider local community so the facility continues to be enjoyed safely and responsibly

A graded redesign on the table

According to Essex Live, the motion passed on the night also set out a managed bike park approach, including:

• A redesigned progressive riding area with separate graded lines for different abilities, possibly along the lines of ski-run grading
• Clearer rider flow and a dedicated return route to reduce conflict between riders
• Drainage improvements
• Formal waymarking and trail-specific signage

That detail doesn't appear in the version of the motion published before the meeting, so it may have been added by amendment on the night. We'll confirm it against the council's minutes once they're published. No timescale has been announced for any work.

You can find the full iBikeRide listing for Warley Bike Park, including the current lines, here.