‘Financial implications’ for Tour de France route in North Yorkshire (From York Press)
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‘Financial implications’ for Tour de France route in North Yorkshire
8:45am Saturday 22nd December 2012 in Business news
By Mark Stead, Political Reporter
PLANNED repairs to roads in North Yorkshire could be delayed because of the arrival of the Tour de France in the region.
Organisers of the famed cycling race – one of the largest and most-watched sporting events in the world – confirmed last week that the opening days of the Tour, the Grand Depart, will be staged in Yorkshire in July 2014.
Leeds will be the host city, but the route – exact details of which have yet to be confirmed – will pass through York, Scarborough and the North York Moors. North Yorkshire County Council’s executive has now agreed to enter into a contract with tourism agency Welcome To Yorkshire, which led the county’s bid, confirming the authority’s “commitment to hosting the finish of stage one” of the 2014 Tour.
A report by David Bowe, corporate director of business and environmental services, said although the Grand Depart would be a major economic boost for the region, there were “clear financial implications” for the council, including how preparations for the Tour will affect its highway maintenance programme next year.
“There could be a requirement for highway improvement works along the route within North Yorkshire, predominantly to mitigate the risk of injury to the competitors,” it said.
“It is understood [Tour organisers] the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) will provide details of any works they require, which could include measures such as resurfacing roads and removal of street furniture. The programme for 2013/14 could therefore need to be reprofiled to enable the required works to be completed prior to the event.
“This would clearly have an impact on the overall programme, meaning planned maintenance schemes elsewhere would be delayed.”
Mr Bowe’s report said postponing other necessary road repairs could lead to routes deteriorating further and cost the council more in the long run. It said the “exact financial implications” of the Tour would not be confirmed until technical contract documents are provided from Welcome To Yorkshire.
The tourism body must have deals in place with all councils on the Grand Depart route before entering into a formal contract with ASO. Welcome To Yorkshire has said the 2014 event could surpass the £73 million London gained by staging the 2007 Grand Depart, with up to £1.8 million expected to be spent on accommodation, as much as £12.2 million per stage forecast to be spent on retail, food and catering, and about £15 million worth of publicity tipped to be generated through media coverage.
Comments(22)
amike
says...
9:55am Sat 22 Dec 12
Where is the other £31.8 million going to come from and at what cost????
capt spaulding
says...
10:26am Sat 22 Dec 12
Our poor are doing ok, food banks are performing well.
Our council has to prioritise.
James Alexander has to use the cycle event for maximum exposure of himself.
Paul Meoff
says...
11:00am Sat 22 Dec 12
capt spaulding wrote:He should get arrested then.
It will come out of social services spending.
Our poor are doing ok, food banks are performing well.
Our council has to prioritise.
James Alexander has to use the cycle event for maximum exposure of himself.
again
says...
11:12am Sat 22 Dec 12
Alternatively they could ride all-terrain bikes instead of their normal ultra lightweight machines.
yorkshirelad
says...
11:26am Sat 22 Dec 12
There it's done with great pride at being chosen to be part of the route and in anticipation at the worldwide media exposure.
As London did both for it's Tour de France chance in 2007 and for the Olympics this year, we will put on a great show.
In fact we'll do it better than London. Bring the race on!
bob the builder
says...
11:27am Sat 22 Dec 12
Paul Meoff
says...
11:50am Sat 22 Dec 12
bob the builder wrote:It's started - let the whining begin.
It's started - they will use Le Tour as a cover to increase council tax, parking charges and anything else the council can make more money off to pay for Alexander's foibles. We knew it would not bring benefit to small businesses, just inconvenience and financial loss with road closures and deterring people from coming to areas it's in. The only people who will make money will be those selling overpriced food and drink.
On the positive side, it's only for 18 months. I guess the same miserable sods moaned for 7 years in the build up to the Olympics.
Sillybillies
says...
12:58pm Sat 22 Dec 12
bob the builder says...
11:27am Sat 22 Dec 12
It's started - they will use Le Tour as a cover to increase council tax, parking charges and anything else the council can make more money off to pay for Alexander's foibles. We knew it would not bring benefit to small businesses, just inconvenience and financial loss with road closures and deterring people from coming to areas it's in. The only people who will make money will be those selling overpriced food and drink.
Correct, and it's already cost us £50K with regards to the Yorkshire bid. I'm sure there's a majority of us who don't want the charade to come anywhere near York.
The Olympics lost London businesses a load of money.
Maltoneer
says...
2:11pm Sat 22 Dec 12
Paul Meoff
says...
3:57pm Sat 22 Dec 12
Maltoneer wrote:Tour de France on the pavement. Hardly the sharpest knife in the draw are you. Unless of course you are a Yank.
There is no need to do-up the roads for these selfish bikers. They are accustomed to using the pavements. Keep them there. If that is not good, let the organisers pay for their pleasures and our consequential inconvenience.
gjh
says...
4:33pm Sat 22 Dec 12
yorkshirelad wrote:Spot on yorkshirelad- the most sensible comment on this page by miles.Vive le Tour.
In France large sections of road get upgraded before the Tour de France...the race benefits, but of course the upgraded road benefits all road users after the race.
There it's done with great pride at being chosen to be part of the route and in anticipation at the worldwide media exposure.
As London did both for it's Tour de France chance in 2007 and for the Olympics this year, we will put on a great show.
In fact we'll do it better than London. Bring the race on!
Sillybillies
says...
4:43pm Sat 22 Dec 12
http://www.cityam.co
m/latest-news/allist
er-heath/london-suff
ering-olympic-boost-
outweighed-losses
The OX
says...
8:54pm Sat 22 Dec 12
Magicman!
says...
4:13am Sun 23 Dec 12
Paul Meoff wrote:Love this reposte!
Maltoneer wrote:Tour de France on the pavement. Hardly the sharpest knife in the draw are you. Unless of course you are a Yank.
There is no need to do-up the roads for these selfish bikers. They are accustomed to using the pavements. Keep them there. If that is not good, let the organisers pay for their pleasures and our consequential inconvenience.
-----
Just a little question I have.... Tour De France's opening stages have been won to be hosted in YORKshire, and yet the host city is Leeds? What's the crack, eh??
bloodaxe
says...
4:10pm Sun 23 Dec 12
yorkshirelad wrote:You're on a losing ticket with this one. Most of the anti-brigade would be hard pressed to find France on the map, let alone know just what the TdF really means.
In France large sections of road get upgraded before the Tour de France...the race benefits, but of course the upgraded road benefits all road users after the race.
There it's done with great pride at being chosen to be part of the route and in anticipation at the worldwide media exposure.
As London did both for it's Tour de France chance in 2007 and for the Olympics this year, we will put on a great show.
In fact we'll do it better than London. Bring the race on!
Sillybillies
says...
5:47pm Sun 23 Dec 12
The Tour de France is an annual multiple stage bicycle race primarily held in France, while also occasionally making passes through nearby countries
And they should keep it in France so the French can put up with it and pay for it. It will cost York dear even by just passing near.
tomdobson
says...
8:56pm Sun 23 Dec 12
amike wrote:These arn't costs its what london gained from hosting in 2004.
So £1.8 million from accommodation, two stages generating £12.2 million and £15 millon in publicity.
Where is the other £31.8 million going to come from and at what cost????
Dennis.Dart
says...
10:18am Wed 26 Dec 12
keep it over there with the sheep burning commys and stop wasting our taxes !!!!
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
12:28pm Wed 26 Dec 12
johnnyzim
says...
12:22am Thu 27 Dec 12
it will be fabulous
/kev/null
says...
4:11pm Fri 28 Dec 12
rstood/wilfully misinterpreted/made-
up figures about how much the council will pay to make it happen, watch the seething mass descend on the comments.
Paul Meoff says...
9:54am Sat 22 Dec 12
Whichever route they take, I've almost certainly cycled sections of it. At least I now know I can claim for damage or injury as they have admitted roads are not fit for purpose.
Hopefully they will resurface the main route and a strip 1m from the curb elsewhere.