Children who used a motorcycle track in Tolworth were left in tears as it closed following supermarket chain Lidl’s £10m purchase of the land.

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Putting a brave face on: Vic Allan with young riders

The Jubilee Way bike track, which had been run by Vic and Anne Allan for 14 years, saw its final day off with sadness as riders took their last spins around the track on Saturday, September 5.

The site will become the UK headquarters of Lidl and will see the chain construct a new 220,000 sq ft office building.

Mr Allan, who received an MBE in 2004 for his work with Camden Youth Offenders, said: “After 14 years and working with the young kids, there were a lot of tears from the kids who’ve never ridden anywhere else, it’s said for them.

“It’s a safe place for the kids. To lose it, it would be sad really. The kids, they would ride on a waste land and would upset everybody else.”

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Last few spins around the track

Mr Allan, who won two British Championships and competed in races around the world, had paid Kingston Council £800 a year for the site, but said he had been given minimal notice about the lease termination.

He added: “We were thrown into turmoil.

“There was a lack of respect to be honest.”

Kingston Council said it was in the process of looking for a replacement site for the track. A planning application for the Lidl headquarters is also yet to be submitted.

Councillor David Cunningham, cabinet member with responsibility for regeneration, said: “Although it is the bike club’s responsibility to find a new home, in this instance, the council has conducted a thorough search of its own portfolio and has invited the owners in to discuss one possible site that, subject to any necessary planning issues being resolved, appropriate consultation being undertaken, and a lease being agreed, may suit their needs.”