Why it matters: The six-figure private investment comes as traditional youth clubs decline and young people spend more time on screens and social media – a gap the privately-funded project aims to fill.
The details: Guy Nicholls, group chairman of Tru7 Group, is funding the facility at Millennium Sports Ground in Millennium Way, which hosts Kesgrave parkrun and other community sporting activities. The business leader says he grew up in Kesgrave riding bikes at what was known as the 'Kesgrave Rec', where Tru7 Group is now based.
Plans were originally approved by East Suffolk Council in November 2024, with a revised design approved on 12 December 2025 that adjusted the track layout and fencing. Kesgrave Town Council's Planning & Development Committee supported the application.
Tru7 said the original project estimate was £100,000, with costs expected to have risen since initial plans were drawn up.
The 470 square metre facility – roughly the size of two tennis courts – will feature a 7ft fence, CCTV, seating and landscaping to create a safe community space. The track will be open from 07:00 to 22:00 daily and will not permit motorcycles or mopeds.
What they're saying: "I grew up spending countless hours at what was known as the 'Kesgrave Rec', riding with other local kids and it was a brilliant part of my childhood," said Nicholls. "The pump track will give young people a valuable chance to spend time outdoors, riding bikes, having fun and building friendships, rather than being drawn into screens and social media.
"With traditional youth clubs no longer as popular, young people need positive spaces where they can be active, engaged and entertained. The track will offer exactly that, creating a safe and enjoyable place that encourages healthy activity and helps steer them away from negative influences."
For context: Pump tracks are continuous circuits with banked turns and rollers designed for bikes, scooters and skateboards, allowing riders to maintain momentum without pedalling by 'pumping' their body weight.
The bottom line: The bike pump track at Millennium Sports Ground will give Kesgrave's young people the kind of outdoor recreational space that was common a generation ago but is increasingly rare today. A completion date has not yet been made public.
