DERBY City Council spent £147,000 on the aborted cycle track, it has been revealed.
The track, which was one of the most controversial planning applications in Derby's history, was to be built on The Sanctuary nature reserve next to the Derby Arena.
Local naturalist Nick Moyes was involved in setting up the reserve 10 years ago and was part of the group fighting the work. He said: "I am surprised by the cost. It is a terrible shame but they only have themselves to blame.
"One of the key things that the council must do is flatten the huge piles of earth that have been left on the site."
The initial plans for the track were revealed back in 2011 and soon after, fears were raised about the area it would be built on.
A coalition of 15 wildlife groups, including the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, fought the plans and were backed up by TV star Chris Packham who called the plans "vile vandalism".
Permission was narrowly granted by the council's planning committee in February after the council received 1,009 objections to the scheme and 642 in support.
Soon after work began and more than 50% of the digging work before an injunction to stop further work was granted. It was that delay, the council said, that made the plans untenable and the whole scheme was dropped.
Derby City Council were contacted, along with cabinet member for leisure and culture Alison Martin, but neither was able to make a comment before the Derby Telegraph went to press.
