Pendle cycle race will 'trap us in villages' (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Pendle cycle race will 'trap us in villages'
12:52pm Friday 12th February 2010 in Blacko
CHIEF: Stephen Barnes
VILLAGERS fear they will become ‘prisoners’ in their own homes if country roads are closed for a national cycling race.
Dozens of people, inlcuding farmers and small business-owners, attended a public meeting to protest against organisers’ plans to close roads in Barley, Roughlee, and Blacko, on Sunday, June 27, when the National Road Race Championships take place.
They said the 12-hour closures, between 7am and 7pm, will leave them ‘trapped’ in their tiny rural villages.
Monday’s meeting, at Barley Village Hall, provided people with a chance to put questions to the organisers and see maps of the course.
Speaking after the meeting, May Dugdale, 65, of Narrowgate, Barley, said: “We’re not against the race, but there will be no way in, or out of the village.
"The organisers didn’t tell us about it first. They just went ahead and did it without any warning.
“Some people have to work at weekends. I run a laundrette in Burnley and I sometimes get called out on a Sunday.
"You just don’t know what is going to happen on that day.
"They cannot just shut the road because life does not stop. Farmers have livestock to see to.”
The championships, described as the FA Cup Final of the cycling calendar, are being held in Pendle for the first time.
Olympic medallists Bradley Wiggins and Colne’s Steven Burke will be up against riders including Tour de France winner Mark Cavendish.
Thousands of spectators are expected to line the streets of Pendleside to catch a glimpse of the riders.
Householders have been told they will not be able to park their cars in the road which, Mrs Dugdale, said will cause problems.
Stephen Barnes, Pendle’s chief executive said: “We are consulting with the public widely with the aim of identifying any issues of concern.
“Tourism in Pendle is worth £77million a year and this event will prove a welcome boost for lots of local businesses, many of which have suffered in the recession.”
Comments(6)
hasslem hasslem
says...
1:48pm Fri 12 Feb 10
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what tosh these nimbys speak. the whole event will be great for the area. if some curmudgeons cannot make alternative arrangements for one day then they are pathetic. i am sure they managed, like i did, when we were snowed in during december.
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these people have had their personalities removed and there is no hope for them.
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bring on the bikes!
BRFC 1
says...
2:19pm Fri 12 Feb 10
Some of these whiners should pop over to France for Le Tour ,whole villages come to a standstill to embrace the event .People camp out on the moutain slopes for days to catch a glimpse of the race .
Bring it on .
happycyclist
says...
2:31pm Fri 12 Feb 10
Yes, the Pendle race is a big event and the area is fortunate to host it, but that's no reason to ride roughshod over people who live there.
Even in the Tour de France villages aren't cut off all day -a few hours maybe, but not twelve.
The Curator
says...
2:55pm Fri 12 Feb 10
hasslem hasslem
says...
9:47pm Fri 12 Feb 10
BRFC 1 wrote:same people want to stop people walking up pendle on halloween cos a small number get rowdy.
Hasslem. Good call this event will be massive and i for one dont want CRACKPOTS messing things up . Some of these whiners should pop over to France for Le Tour ,whole villages come to a standstill to embrace the event .People camp out on the moutain slopes for days to catch a glimpse of the race . Bring it on .
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i have been to salem near boston in US and it is a major, major event over there.
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a uniquely british thing to stop people enjoying themselves.
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i have friends up near bentham in n.lancs and the race went by their place last year - no hassle, no complaints.
BRFC 1 says...
1:37pm Fri 12 Feb 10