Stoke-on-Trent leg of Tour of Britain could be scaled back to cut costs
TALKS are to be held between city council officials and Tour of Britain organisers over the future of the race in Stoke-on-Trent.
The Sentinel recently revealed how hosting a Potteries leg of the national cycling race had cost more than £820,000 over the last five years, including annual payments of between £80,000 and £175,000 to organisers.
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The Potteries leg of the national cycling race has cost more than £820,000 to stage over the last five years.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council said the televised race puts the city on the map and benefits the economy as hundreds line Hanley's streets to watch the race's finish. But it is now looking to drastically cut its payments for the race as it prepares to save another £50 million over two years.
This could lead to the race no longer basing one of its legs in the city, or a renegotiated route which either starts or finishes in the city.
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Councillor Mark Meredith, cabinet member for economic development, said: "The Tour of Britain has been a great success and we still have an aspiration to host it again. But we won't be spending as much on it.
"Rather than a start and finish in the city, we'll negotiate to see if we can have a start or a finish at a reduced cost."
Last year's race, which featured Olympic stars Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish, started at Trentham Gardens and finished in Old Hall Street, Hanley, after a 93-mile route around much of North Staffordshire.
The 2012 event cost the cash-strapped council about £163,000, including payments to the organisers and thousands more spent on marketing, security and traffic management.
Comments
by THX1138
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 8:34PM
“I dont get it - a televised race through our City raising our profile? HOW? Shame we lost our Pottery industry now that is profile raising and keeps people in employment!”
by stokepotter
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 8:17PM
“I think Stoke on Trent has already unfortunately been put on the national map by the 3 programmes on TV last year featuring our glorious leader and his Labour minions in the Council showing just how they badly run this city. We do need positive publicity but this race is of a transient interest nature. It only drew a large crowd last year due to Bradley Wiggins winning the Tour de France and people wanting to see him.”
by Juzzah
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 12:18PM
“'The 2012 event cost the cash-strapped council about £163,000' - It really isn't much compared to the publicity it got the city! Surely rather than try to scale this down they should look at NOT moving offices!!!”
by bobble1956
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 10:00AM
“Common sense at long last !!!!”
by RegenMan1
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 9:16AM
“In what way did the race start and finish in Stoke-on-Trent in 2012?
Trentham Gardens is in Stafford Borough Council's area. Any costs for hosting the start of the race should have been borne by them (or Staffordshire County Council) as the benefits accrue to the borough / county i.e. rates revenue from the retail park (sorry garden centre and craft units).
Is the Sentinel suggesting that we, the long suffering council taxpayers of Stoke-on-Trent, have paid more than our fair share, subsidising our poorer neighbours in Stafford? Perhaps next year the finish could be in Stafford town centre and Stoke will still pay?
Perhaps Cllr Meredith has ambitions beyond his boundaries?”