To save the homeless cycling track in Assen from destruction, the municipality wants to build a large education and sports campus. A total of 9 million euros is needed for this.
Of that amount, the municipality must raise approximately 7.3 million euros itself. The rest must come from subsidies from the government, the province and a contribution from the Wielercentrum Assen Foundation, which operates the track. This is evident from a presentation of the plans to the city council on Thursday evening.
Job doomed
Rain and wind have been ravaging the wooden bank since it was completed in 2016, causing it to turn green and black from the algae in winter and therefore unusable. Even after a summer shower, the track is actually not suitable for cycling. Track cyclists are therefore increasingly ignoring the track in Assen and the possible construction of a roof has been the subject of debate for years. The job is in such bad shape at the moment that the municipality states that doing nothing is not an option, unless you agree to a capital destruction of 2 million euros.
In 2021, the city council therefore already sighed and made 1.3 million euros available for a renovated cycling center with a roof. This plan failed within sight of the port because of the explosive rise in material costs. City party PLOP, then still an opposition party, even spoke the harsh words that “the bottomless pit should be filled”.
Education and sports campus Stadsbroek
Now, two years later, there is still a new plan of 9 million euros on the table as an ultimate rescue attempt for the velodrome. In that plan, the kombaan will not only have a roof, but will become part of a new education and sports campus Stadsbroek. The Alfa College and Drenthe College have recently started working together with their sports and exercise education and the intention is that about 375 students will receive lessons on the new campus every day. There will also be room for catering, recreational athletes and other visitors.
Architectural firm De Unie from Groningen made the designs: the resemblance to the new station is striking: the roof will have a sober, open construction of steel columns and wooden beams. The wind will still blow around the riders’ ears, but the roof will keep the track free from rain or condensation.
The city council of Assen will probably consider the plans for the cycling track presented in May.