A PLACE to store cycles could soon be built in a popular park to encourage more people to saddle up.

Planners at Southend Council have recommended proposals to erect a cycle store in Belfairs Park, in Eastwood Road North, Eastwood, are approved.

The unit will go next to the park’s Woodland Resource Centre, which was built three years ago.

The park has more than 500,000 visitors each year, but Southend Council is encouraging more people to saddle up.

The cycle shed will be built on green belt land, but planners do not see this as a big problem.

In her report, planning officer Janine Rowley said: “The proposal involves the construction of a single storey to house cycle parking ancillary to the existing Woodland centre, this is considered to be appropriate development within the green belt and the provision of facilities to support sustainable transport is encouraged and supported.”

Southend Council’s development control committee will rule on the proposal next Wednesday.