St Mark’s Road Community Cycle Store
A few years ago Garry Manning expressed a frustration at having to carry his bike down from his garden shed in St Mark’s Road, then out through his house in order to use it. This meant that Garry’s bike rarely saw the light of day. Realising that many other St Mark’s Road residents suffered from a similar situation, or had bikes sat in their halls, Garry began a conversation about the feasibility of building a central cycle shelter which would provide easier access to residents’ bicycles, and thereby encourage their more frequent use as well as promote a healthier lifestyle.
Over the next couple of years Alex, Garry and Tanya worked together to negotiate a suitable site within St Mark’s Community Centre, achieve planning and listed building consent, fundraise, organize and build the new shelter. What was initially perceived as a simple concept turned out to be quite involved as the cycle shelter negotiated gravestones, trees, a sloping site, access, and its relationship with the St Mark’s garden, used during term-time by Acorns Preschool.
It is therefore with huge thanks to B&NES Council, the Widcombe Association and St Marks Community Centre who backed the project financially, and to all the local residents, Goodgym and Buro Happold ‘young engineers’ volunteers who assisted the build at various stages through the project (or supplied much need refreshment) that it opens for business in 2018. Not only does St Marks Road now possess a valuable resource but it also promises to provide St Marks Community Centre with a modest income for many years as well as finding a new use for a previously neglected corner of the garden.
The St Mark’s Road cycle shelter can house up to 20 adult bikes and 9 child’s bikes and is available for use by Widcombewest residents on an annual subscription basis. For more information please email cyclestore@st-marks-cc.org.uk or visit the St Marks Community Centre website.
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