In the letter, Unitas comes with all kinds of criticism and reservations about the latest plans. Stichting Wielercentrum Assen (SWA), which has been the tenant and manager of the municipal cycling complex since its construction in 2016, has been hit particularly hard. Unitas rents the cross track from SWA and uses the reception area and toilets in the cycling centre. The mutual relationship is difficult, says chairman Lukens of the BMX association.
Unitas organizes major competitions three to four times a year, attracting hundreds to a thousand riders. They do a lot with volunteers. “We put a new top layer on the cross track last year, with our own members. We received financial support from the Wielercentrum Assen foundation, but that was also difficult.”
Much to Lukens’ chagrin, the new multi-million plans for the velodrome make no mention whatsoever of the BMX club. “In fact,
the reception area and canteen that we now use will be discontinued and classrooms will be built there.”
The Unitas chairman also points out that from 2016 onwards they will use a discarded construction site cabin as jury and storage space on the cross track. “We are ashamed to let officials sit in this during games.” A permanent one would come in front of the temporary shed, says Lukens. “But we don’t see that jury room again either. It was removed from the budget by the SWA on its own initiative last year, without informing us. Of course only to free up money for the famous roof,” grumbles Albert Lukens further.
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