Planning lodged for a mountain bike centre and café in Wicklow

Wicklow-based forestry business Coillte have submitted plans for a national mountain bike head building at Ballinastoe.

The plans were submitted to Wicklow County Council this week and include a proposed single storey mountain bike trail head building with a café, bike hire facility, toilets, ancillary spaces, new wastewater treatment system, new car park area, bore well, bike wash area, alterations to public road side landscaping to replace the existing road side car parking with new boundary fence and soft landscaping, according to The Independent. 

There’s currently a 16km cycling trail at Ballinastoe, designed by one of the world leaders in cycling which takes bikers through varied terrain and enjoys views of Calary Common, the Sugarloaf and Lough Tay.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CmbONe3MvDQ/

The site currently has temporary bike hire facilities and a small café which will continue to operate on a temporary basis until the development is complete.

The proposed development would involve the eventual removal of the existing facilities and the construction of a Trail Head building, however.

Speaking to The Independent, Cllr Shay Cullen said the development  could provide local businesses and retailers in Roundwood and surrounding areas with a significant boost

“You see lots of vehicles arriving on the weekends with their bikes attached to racks on their vehicles”, the councillor said.

“The trails attract a lot of people to the area already and enhancing the facilities to include a head building and other facilities will only attract further visitors. There is no doubt this proposed development will have benefits for the local economy in Roundwoood and surrounding areas”.

Header image via Instagram/biking.ie

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