BUSINESSES are “being sought” to operate customer services at the Forest of Dean Cycle Centre.

Forestry England (FE) is re-tendering the site’s cafe, bike retail shop and repair workshop - as well as a separate opportunity to operate the bike uplift service - in line with Government policy, with its current contracts coming to an end.

The cafe, bike retail shop and repair workshop are currently operated by Pedalabikeaway, which has been at the site since the late 1980s, while the uplift service was launched in 2010 by Flyup Downhill.

The visitor site - previously known as Cannop Cycle Centre - is managed by FE, which contracts third party businesses to operate various customer services.

When those contacts come to end, they are re-tendered in order to “create fair and open competition”.

FE’s ranger team are responsible for the 14 waymarked trails at the centre, including the Verderers Trail which was voted the best blue-graded trail in England by Mountain Biking UK.

Interested parties will have the opportunity to bid for the two opportunities individually or together.

They will be 5-year contracts, starting in April 2023, with potential partners needing to register their interest by emailing Judith Lack, Recreation Operations Manager, at [email protected].

For more information, go to www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017413-2022.