A FORMER world and Commonwealth cycling champion says he believes a new outdoor track planned for Derby will be another step towards it becoming the UK's "second city" for the sport.
But wildlife enthusiasts say the proposed route is "irresponsible" as it is planned for a large chunk of the Sanctuary Bird Reserve on Pride Park.
The reserve was opened in 2004 by Derby South MP Dame Margaret Beckett, then Environment Secretary, who yesterday said it would be "a bit sad" if part of it was developed.
But many of those visiting an exhibition on the plans at Pride Park yesterday were upbeat about the plans – including former champion cyclist Geoff Cooke.
Mr Cooke – who won gold at the 1974 Commonwealth Games, is a 26-times World Masters Champion and is British Cycling's former national coach – said the track was another step towards Derby becoming the country's second cycling city.
He said a combination of the new velodrome being built on Pride Park and the Alvaston Park BMX track, plus the proposed outdoor route, would make the city "second only to Manchester".
Mr Cooke, now Derbyshire Institute of Sport head cycling coach, said: "We'll leave competition like Newport for dead. There will be a far increased chance of getting world champions from Derby in the future."
Another visitor to the exhibition, Ben Hillsdon, 31, of Nottingham, said he would travel to use the track as there was nothing like it in his home city.
The 1.4km, six-metre wide, route would be fully enclosed with fencing so there would be no issue with traffic or pedestrians.
Mr Hillsdon said: "There are quite a few traffic-free areas in Nottingham but nothing like this."
Richard Winspear, conservation officer for the Derbyshire Ornithological Society, said the cycle track would disturb nesting areas for lapwings, skylarks, and potentially the little ringed plover.
The RSPB says there are only 825 to 1,070 breeding pairs of the latter in Britain.
Mr Winspear said: "These sites should be designated as nature reserves for their long-term security and not be somewhere where, if something more important comes up, they just get built on."
He added: "Even if this isn't unique, it's unusually irresponsible."
Clare Davenport, director of leisure and culture at the council, said the proposed route "avoids the most sensitive bird nesting area".
She said: "This has been informed by a full ecological and wildlife survey of the sanctuary which was undertaken during 2012.
"The exact area that will be used will depend on the feedback from the exhibition as well as any guidance provided as part of the formal planning application."
Derek Jinks, project manager for the cycle track and for the velodrome, said the aim was to "mitigate" the effect on wildlife as much as possible.
He said this could include having plants growing on the track fence and new mounds so that birds cannot see the cyclists.
The cost of the track is included in that for the £27.5 million sports arena.
