COUNTY bosses have come under fire from upper dale farmers and businesses for not consulting with them over planned road closures for a major cycle event later in the summer.
Billed as the only closed road cycling event in the North of England, the Vélo North sportive hopes to attract as many as 15,000 cyclists over a 100-mile route around the county on Sunday, September 1.
Durham County Council has set aside £250,000 for the event, which begins and ends in Durham City, and has the support of former England World Cup-winning rugby captain Martin Johnson.
Businesses say they will lose takings on the day and farmers complain it will disrupt their second round of summer hay-making.
County bosses say they are still finalising the route, although event organisers have published a map which shows the route is to enter Teesdale from St John’s Chapel and pass through Langdon Beck, Bowlees and Newbiggin before entering Middleton-in-Teesdale.
The route then follows up Town Head until it joins up with the B6278 where the cyclists will turn right to Eggleston. Passing through the village, the route goes up Folly Top until it turns off onto the Staindrop Road to pass through Kinninvie. The cyclists will turn up Dent Gate Lane to pass through Copley and Woodland and on to Hamsterley before leaving the dale.
Langdon Beck Hotel landlady Sue Matthews said a similar event, the Pennines Etape, held in 2014, had killed a day’s trade because regulars could not get through and none of the riders stopped by. She expected much the same this year if the road closure went ahead.
Mrs Matthews said: “Sunday is our busiest day and that is the last Sunday of the school holidays. It would be nice to be consulted.”
However, the county council's head of sport and culture Steve Howell said the route is not finalised and people would be asked for input.
He added that the event was an opportunity to showcase the county to a new audience and it would boost the economy by “hundreds of thousands of pounds”.
Mr Howell said: “We are working closely with the organisers, emergency services and transport operators to finalise the route and minimise any potential disruption on the day.
“Together with the Vélo North team, we will be engaging with communities to help residents and businesses prepare for the event and make the most of the opportunities it presents.
“We would love to hear from communities with ideas on how they can maximise the benefits the event will bring. We already plan to create designated rider pit stops along the route to encourage cyclists and spectators to visit local shops and eateries, while the early start will encourage many visitors to stay over the night before.”
Those who oppose the road closures through the dale point out that the event starts and ends in Durham City, meaning the accommodation facilities in the dale are unlikely to benefit.
Peter Waistell, from the National Farmers Union in Barnard Castle, was heavily involved in the negotiations when the Etape event was held five years ago. He said at the “very least” there should be rolling road closures.
He said: “The big problem is they are taking out Folly Top and that takes out the most crucial piece of road in the dale. It is as bad a time as ever.
“There will be the second round of hay-making and silage-making. The roads they are taking out are the major routes for the upper dale. Businesses are losing a day’s trade. For what? For nothing.
“No business will get passing trade. It’s a nonsense.
“They only way people can have lunch at Langdon Beck is to book in the day before and stay overnight. That is a bloody expensive lunch.”
Lynne Oxby, who owned the Conduit Cafe in Middleton-in-Teesdale, when the Etape event was held said cyclists bring good custom to the dale but events that cause road closures are unwelcome.
She said: “I am going to be cut off for a day. I am all for cycling events but I am against shutting the road.
Mr Howell said the event was about more than bringing immediate cash to the region.
He added: ““Events like Vélo North are more important than ever; not only for the immediate economic benefits, but for the legacy they leave in terms of raising aspirations, challenging perceptions of our region and attracting tourism and investment.”
Teesdale cyclist Robert Kirby, who plans to take part, said: “The argument for closed roads is for safety reasons but it is also meant to attract more riders but I’m not sure it does.
“Previous open road sportives that I’ve done from York, Ilkley, Thirsk, Masham and Darlington (which used to come in to the dale) still have quite large numbers.”
