HALESOWEN cycling supremo Dave Viner has accused West Midlands Mayor Andy Street of having a "negative view" and "closed mind" to the region's bid for an indoor velodrome.

The chairman of Halesowen Cycling Club has turned his attention to getting a new training facility in the West Midlands and wants the authority's combined mayor to get into gear and do more to help the fight ahead of the 2022 Birmingham Commonweath Games.

Late last year it was confirmed that track cycling events would take place in London’s Lea Valley Velopark, with no viable existing alternative in the West Midlands.

The nearest outdoor cycle track, at Manor Abbey in Halesowen, is over 70 years old, and the option of building a new competition velodrome was also rejected by the organisers.

However, despite that setback, Mr Viner is determined to help the games leave a legacy by securing a multimillion pound training centre instead.

He feels Mr Street isn't doing enough to help the bid and underlined his disappointment in an open letter to the mayor.

He said: "As far as the velodrome debate is concerned you appear to have taken a negative view and have closed your mind to the opportunities available, which I find surprising and very sad.

"The last time we met in Wolverhampton I explained it was accepted that owing to lack of support by Sport England, it was very unlikely a ‘competition’ standard velodrome will be built and so the focus is now to have a smaller velodrome with maybe 800 seats and either a 200 or 250m track which experts have said would cost between £12 to £15m, if possible in time for the Games.

“I would urge you, sir, to consult experts in the construction of indoor velodromes with a view to examining how we can enable the West Midlands to have a modern indoor cycle track which would truly get people cycling in safe conditions. Please get experts around a table and have informed talks. If a velodrome cannot be built in time for the Games so be it, let us have one as soon as possible afterwards.

“A modern indoor velodrome is long overdue. As the Mayor of the West Midlands I ask you to please reconsider your position and help our region catch up with London, South Wales, the North West and other parts of the UK.”

A spokesman for West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said: "Many thanks for the letter, we’ll reply directly in due course."