MP James Morris is leading a cross-party campaign to convince Commonwealth Games organisers to build a new velodrome in the West Midlands.

With the games coming to Birmingham in 2022, organisers have confirmed the indoor cycling events will take place in London, due to the lack of a modern 250m track in the region.

But the Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP has got together with 12 of his fellow elected representatives from across the West Midlands in the hope of convincing Julie Harrington, CEO of British Cycling, to consider a new track closer to home.

Stourbridge News:

Mr Morris said: “The Birmingham Commonwealth Games represents a massive opportunity for the West Midlands to develop and grow its sporting infrastructure.

“As the regions MPs, we feel it would be a missed opportunity if cycling is simply to be sent to London, rather than fostering the talent we have in the West Midlands.”

The West Midlands does not currently possess a single banked cycle race track, with the nearest venue to Birmingham being Halesowen Cycling Club’s Manor Abbey Stadium.

And although Mr Morris praised the “superb facility” which has sat in Manor Way for the past 70 years for promoting grassroots track cycling, the Tory MP said the region is in “urgent need” of a modern indoor track.

He added: “In order to develop the sport, across Great Britain, we need to ensure that the facilities are evenly spread out, and that, as is often the case, the concentration of resources in London will leave behind a whole generation of potential sporting heroes here in the West Midlands.”

The campaign has also been backed by Dudley North’s Labour MP Ian Austin and Conservatives Mike Wood MP (Dudley South) and Rachael Maclean MP (Redditch).