An Angus bicycle project has gone into top gear since launching a recycling service based in Arbroath.
Angus Cycling Hub opened premises in Gravesend in January to refurbish unwanted bikes and then resell them to the public at cheap prices.
It has an arrangement to collect bikes from the council’s recycling centres in Arbroath and Montrose and also accepts donations at the shop.
The group was formed two years ago and organises the successful annual Angus Cycling Festival in Forfar, but Scott Francis from the Hub said that opening physical premises was always an ambition.
He said: “The Hub was set up to encourage people to lead healthier lives and also reduce co2 emissions in Angus.
“We are a not for profit social enterprise which is run by the community.
“The shop and service centre was always one of our long term aims and its success has caught us off guard.”
The majority of bikes in the shop are sold for around £40 to offer people a low cost entry into cycling.
Scott added that the group was already looking into the possibility of moving into larger premises.
“We’re reached full capacity at the site we’re in,” he said. “We are speaking to Angus Council about trying to secure bigger premises.
“We collect bikes from two recycling centres in Angus at the moment. We are hoping that in the future we can collect from all seven.”
The group has received funding from the NHS with the aim of promote physical health and wellbeing through cycling and bike maintenance.
It also accepts referrals from its partners to help volunteers’ employability.
An information day was held on Saturday to give more members of the public an opportunity to learn about the work the group carries out. Angus South MSP Graeme Dey was among the people who attended the event.
The group’s cycling development officer James Beattie added: “Members of the public are now keen to get a refurbished bike with our stamp.
“We were keen to share with people information about the depths of our organisation and how it benefits the community so that’s why we hosted an information day.
“We also invited out partners from the NHS and the local authority to the day.”
See more at www.facebook.com/anguscyclehub.
