THIS is Bournemouth’s new Olympic size cycle track in all its stark glory.

A workman putting the finishing touches to the stunning £800,000 attraction is dwarfed by the sheer scale of the development.

Funded by British Cycling, Bournemouth council and housing development contributions, the 250-metre track, which will allow speeds of up to 50mph and also be used for in-line skating and running, is the first to be built in the UK since 1962.

The Slades Farm track, to be known as Bournemouth Cycling Centre, is being constructed from recycled materials by Hampshire-based Raymond Brown, in partnership with Tarmac, and will open for public use at the end of May.

British Cycling, the UK’s governing body of cycle sport, is providing £400,000 in funding for the project which will serve Dorset and the New Forest.

Bournemouth Council’s deputy leader Cllr John Beesley described the project as “very exciting,” adding: “We can’t wait for it to be completed. It will certainly put Bourne-mouth on the map for track cycling and hopefully encourage local people to take up a new sport.”

Mark Adams, British Cycle regional development manager, said: “It looks stunning and is going to be an incredible facility for Bournemouth, the local community and regional cyclists.”

Alan MacRae from Bournemouth Arrows Cycling Club, who will manage the site, said the track would provide opportunities for all ages and develop cycling in Bournemouth.

Surfacing work and landscaping have yet to be completed and there are plans to create a dog training and exercise area. The central area will be dog free.

Local residents, opposed to the scheme, complained it would devalue their homes and create “horrendous” traffic problems.

But an application by Ensbury Park Residents’ Association for town green status failed after an inspector ruled that it could only succeed if people using the land were trespassing.

However, she decided they were using it with the permission of the landowner, the borough council.