Bosses at Yorkshire jail HMP Wetherby spend £10,000 on BMX dirt bike track for inmates

A prison spent £10,000 on a BMX dirt bike track for inmates.

Bosses at HMP Wetherby, a 290-capacity jail in West Yorkshire, splashed taxpayers' cash on the 'pump track' for inmates to hone their bike skills.

But despite a 'grand opening' last November, when the prison posted photos of offenders 'getting air' on jumps and furiously pedalling round the track, it has barely been used since.

The prison holds offenders aged between 15-18.

A social media post from HMP Wetherby captioned: 'As part of our Open Day, we opened our brand new BMX track, in partnership with @LeedsUrbanBike'

'An innovative idea to offer a healthy distraction to our children while in custody and to build links for release,' the social media post added

A report into the jail by Charlie Taylor, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, stated that there were 'few opportunities' for offenders have a go on the track.

He wrote: 'A large bike track has been built, but children were disappointed that there were few opportunities to use it.'

It's believed a lack of manpower and problems with the bikes have led to the track being under-used.

Writing on X last November, jail chiefs said: 'We opened our brand new BMX track, in partnership with @LeedsUrbanBike.

'An innovative idea to offer a healthy distraction to our children while in custody and to build links for release.'

There are hundreds of pump tracks - which have bumps, dips and jumps, as well as tight turns - around the UK, often used by BMX riders, skateboarders, and scooter riders.

It is believed, however, that just several sessions have been held since, due to restricted times out of cells, lack of manpower and problems with the bikes.

A report into the jail by Charlie Taylor, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, stated that there were 'few opportunities' for offenders have a go on the track

A Youth Custody Service spokesperson said the track was 'part of our work to rehabilitate children'

One former inmate at HMP Wetherby wrote to prisoners' mag Inside Time to say the BMX track was a waste of money.

He complained it 'never gets used', adding: 'I'm just thinking about the other things the prison service could have spent the money on, such as deep cleaning of some of the cells.

'Yes, I know it won't go on that, but it could help a little with making my life better. Or even giving us better food.'

A spokesman for Inside Time said: 'The BMX track opened in November 2023. It was paid for out of a fund allocated for education and purposeful activity at YOI Wetherby.'

A Youth Custody Service spokesperson said the track was 'part of our work to rehabilitate children so that they turn their backs on crime, get jobs on release and become law-abiding adults'.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice declined to say how often the track had been used.