The Adrenaline Gateway, and its class leading mountain bike trails around Lee Quarry, has certainly put Rossendale on the map. Not only does it give the mix of local sporting facilities a truly unique flavour — it has become a tourist destination that’s earning national acclaim. For the quarry now regularly hosts top class events, and it’s set to grow and grow. But, without PEER Support, the chances are that Lee Quarry would be little more than a pipe dream buried in a large hole in the ground.
The Gateway is one of the biggest success stories we’ve been involved in and it’s a classic example of what we are all about. PEER Support effectively galvanised the hopes and dreams of a number of local people, then brought together a host of agencies and funders to help make the Gateway happen. And now, in a classic ”if you build it they will come’ regeneration story, it has become a breeding ground for new businesses.
So just what is the Lee Quarry all about? It’s a unique set of mountain bike trails — about 8 km in total — at the disused quarry. The trails were designed after looking at the best bits from various venues across the UK, where examples of best practice were taken away and reused. “It’s like a giant playground for grown ups,” says Tony Lund, Countryside Officer for Lancashire County Council. “It’s a fairly compact site but offers a lot of technical riding and a chance for riders to hone particular skills. It’s a place where people come for a good day out but also to improve their riding skills.”
“People can simply turn up and ride whenever they want but the quarries have their risks so we always recommend parental supervision. The trails need to be treated with respect and ridden with a degree of caution. The trails are graded red and black which mean they aren’t aimed at beginners.”
Andy MacNae of PEER says: “It’s wonderful to see the quarry take off. One of the leading mountain bike magazines in the country recently published a seven-page feature on Lee Quarry and its reputation is spreading rapidly among the mountain bike community. Mountain biking is one of the fastest growing sports in the country and the great thing is Rossendale is now seen as a key destination and is well placed to take advantage of the boom.”
“While it’s great that the mountain bike community has really taken to Lee Quarry it has to be remembered that without the support of PEER and the local community this would never have happened. “Locals who knew the area well had real vision. They could see that this sort of project would bring in visitors to the area, which is when they asked us to get involved. Last year it attracted some 15,000 riders — this year that number could more than double. A few businesses have now sprung up running training courses, which offer people a chance to improve their riding skills, and other associated businesses are likely to follow to serve this growing band of enthusiasts. Meanwhile, the site itself is growing. Trails at Cragg Quarry have been completed and linked to Lee Quarry and there are long term plans to link the Rossendale Centre with others further afield.”
Rest assured PEER will play its part in helping the local business community get its voice heard in future.
