Decision to be made on Etape Caledonia 2008
Last updated | 22/02/2008
The Enterprise and Infrastructure Committee will hear detailed proposals for a second Etape Caledonia closed-road cycle event in Highland Perthshire when it meets on Wednesday 30 January.
The committee will be told that several important changes have been made to the event as a result of extensive consultation carried out with local communities about last year’s Etape.
Members will also be asked to give the 2008 Etape the official go-ahead, following a decision to give it approval in principle at a meeting in November 2007. The in-principle approval was subject to assurances being given that negative impact experienced by some members of the community during last year’s event could be minimised.
A report to the committee will say that the proposed event, which will run over 81 miles of closed roads in Highland Perthshire, has been moulded by the opinions of residents and local businesses. Changes from 2007 include:
• The event will be held on Sunday 18 May 2008
• It will start earlier than last year
• The length of time that each section of road is closed will be shortened considerably
• The shorter 28-mile course which was incorporated into last year’s event has been removed from the event
• The average speed required by participants has been raised to ensure that road closures are kept short.
These changes have been made in direct response to community feedback to the Council and the event organiser (SBI Ltd) since the last Etape.
Following the 2007 event an independent economic impact assessment was carried out. Despite generally positive results it found that 39% of businesses surveyed reported negative impact on the day. There was also some concern from residents about road closures. The consultation process was launched in an attempt to minimise this impact should there be another Etape event.
The process included the formation of a Steering Group made up of representatives from community councils, tourism associations, churches, farmers, businesses, Perth & Kinross Council and the event organiser.
The consultation programme to date includes:
• Meeting with community representatives in Pitlochry, October 2007
• Meeting of the Etape Caledonia Steering Group, Weem, November 2007
• Meeting with disadvantaged businesses, Aberfeldy, November 2007
• Second meeting of Steering Group, Aberfeldy, December 2007
• Etape Caledonia marketing and promotion sub group meeting, December 2007
• Meeting of Steering Group, January 2007
• Consultation with individual businesses
Committee Convener, Councillor John Kellas, said: “Consultation is ongoing and will continue right up until the event. The clear message from the consultation process so far is that, overall, local businesses are supportive of the event. There are several businesses who remain totally opposed to road closures – this amounts to some 2% of businesses in Highland Perthshire.
“Local residents and community groups are also broadly in favour of the event and have contributed positively to the consultation process. This has allowed us to tailor the proposed 2008 event to better suit their needs. Everyone who wanted to be heard on this issue has had that opportunity, and I would like to thank everyone who has taken part.
“There is still a group of people who are steadfast in their opposition to a closed-road event, and the committee will also be made fully aware of their concerns before a decision is made.
“The fact that this is a closed-road event is what makes it such an attractive proposition to cyclists. The organiser would have real difficulty attracting the level of participation if the Etape was not run on closed roads, and indeed it is very doubtful whether the police would allow it because of safety considerations. This is why we believe that a closed-road event is the only option.
“Road closures, of course, need to be managed properly and I believe this year’s revised proposals will cause a minimum of disruption. Roads will re-open in stages once the main body of cyclists have passed through. The shortest road closure will last 1hr 10mins, and the longest 4hrs 20mins. On average most roads will be closed between two and three hours in the early part of the day. Planned road closures have been publicised much earlier than they were last year.
“Staging the Etape can be hugely beneficial to the local economy and can really put Perth and Kinross on the map. This year the organiser aims to attract 2,500 participants and we hope it can become one of the main events in the UK’s cycling calendar. “However, it is vital that we continue to work with local communities. The Etape needs the support of local people if it is to successfully evolve.”
