A COMMUNITY centre in Headington has opened a new bike shelter to help promote cycling in the area.

Local activist group Headington Community Action has spent £2,500 on the shelter at the community centre in a bid to reduce pressure on the small car park.

Chairman of Headington Community Action Tanya Field said: “It’s great because now people have got the opportunity to lock their bikes in a sheltered place where the bikes can stay dry.

“Previously people had issues parking their bikes.

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“Hopefully more people will now choose to cycle to the community centre as Headington is one of the most traffic congested areas of the city.”

The bike shelter was officially opened in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday by two members of the 17 clubs hosted at the community centre.

Headington Quarry OAP Group member 98-year-old Vera Brown said: “It is good that we’ve got the facility here now as it could help people be more active.

“I used to love riding a tandem bike around the Cotswolds with my husband, but I think I’ll be too old to use it now.

“If I tried to cycle now I’d probably fall off.”

A member of the Cherry Tree Nursery and potential user of the bike shelter, three-year-old Taliyah Ndungu, also helped cut the ribbon.

Nursery manager Jenny Willoughby said: “She was very excited about cutting the ribbon.

“I’m sure that more people will begin cycling to the community centre now we’ve got the shelter.”

Mrs Field, a 42-year-old mother-of-three, became involved with the community centre when her children went to the Cherry Tree Nursery. She added: “The centre is a great facility and really does bring the whole community together.

“We were able to pay for the bike shelter with the money we’ve raised from hosting clubs here.

“We’re also doing some redecorating in the centre as well.”

Headington Community Action uses any surplus made from revenues at the centre to fund other community activities.

The group recently donated £750 to the Headington Festival, which will take place next May.

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