£820,000 bill for hosting Stoke-on-Trent leg of Tour of Britain cycling race
HOSTING a Potteries leg of the Tour of Britain has cost city taxpayers more than £820,000 in five years.
But Stoke-on-Trent City Council today defended the investment and claimed that bringing Britain's biggest professional cycling race to the area brought "millions of pounds" in knock-on benefits.
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PEDAL POWER: Riders competing during the Potteries leg of the Tour of Britain last year.
Hundreds of people are expected to line the streets on Thursday to see superstars like Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish lap the county as part of this year's event.
It comes as figures obtained by The Sentinel show the council pays a high price for the privilege of hosting the tour.
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This year's outlay is set to reach almost £163,000. And the total cost of hosting an annual leg since 2008 has topped £827,600.
Organiser Tour of Britain Limited has received annual payments of between £80,000 and £175,000. And thousands more has been spent on PR, security and traffic management.
Some residents' groups have questioned the hefty bill, which comes as the authority is in a major budget-cutting programme driven by Government austerity measures.
Alan Joinson, chairman of East Bentilee Residents' Association, said: "I'm surprised at the costs. It is a lot of money. But it does put Stoke-on-Trent on the map and brings people into the town who wouldn't normally be there.
"If more money is being spent in the shops and pubs, then the cost probably balances itself out."
Councillor Mark Meredith, whose cabinet responsibilities include sport, said: "Hosting world-class sporting events like the Tour of Britain, which brings national heroes to Stoke-on-Trent, is worth millions and millions of pounds in economic and social impact and in raising the profile of the city on a world stage.
"The sport itself has never been more popular. The event is live on ITV4, which means we can project our city and the region to the world and show the event live on a big screen from our city centre.
"In this incredible Olympic year, many places would wish to have Wiggo and Cav racing through their streets."
Councillor Dave Conway, leader of the City Independent group, said: "I'm pleased The Sentinel has looked into these costs. It's only right they are available, so people can make up their own minds.
"It's a very popular event and has a lot of support. Nobody is against it but there could be better ways of funding it."
Setting off from Trentham Gardens at 10.30am, 96 riders in 16 teams will tackle a 93-mile route taking in Stone, Stafford, Rugeley, Uttoxeter and the Moorlands before finishing in Old Hall Street, Hanley.
Comments
by camband
Wednesday, September 12 2012, 9:27PM
“The Penny-Farthing -those were the days...... the hey days.
-In Charles Street I mean.”
by muzzer57
Wednesday, September 12 2012, 4:18PM
“I suggest all lard ****d car drivers get out and watch the race come through tomorrow it may encourage you to do something useful like getting fit.
I will have to miss it this year as I am going away for some much needed sunshine but I have setup the Sky box to record it, looking forward to the Gunn Hill climb.”
by meirhayflyer
Wednesday, September 12 2012, 4:01PM
“simples make all new drivers ride a cycle instead of that stuipd theory test. 3 months on cycle with an instructor better than learing a few raod signs,”
by daley74
Wednesday, September 12 2012, 9:28AM
“Focus 386:
Nobody pays road tax; it's called Vehicle Excise Duty as you're being charged on the use of the vehicle not the road (PS - about 99% of cyclists also own and run a car - so they do actually pay this, or does it blow your mind that people can use more than 1 form of transport?). Churchill argued against it being called Road Tax as he thought motorists would think they then had the sole right to use them. Listening to your rant, one can see how right he was.
Also, if all the money raised from the duty was spent on roads (which it isn't) - there would still be a massive shortfall to pay for the upkeep of the road network. Where does this shortfall come from? The answer is general taxation which anybody in employment pays. This again, may blow your mind, but this includes cyclists in employment. Therefore, they do pay towards the use of the roads.
I don't condone cyclists running red lights but the number of people injured or killed by cyclists every year must pale into insignificance compared to the carnage caused by cars. And by the way, I do happen to own and run a car in addition to cycling.”
by Focus386
Wednesday, September 12 2012, 8:14AM
“Meirhayflyer,
Oooohhhh name calling how very grown up of you...now that you've spat your dummy out and before your mummy or wife let's you out on your tricycle pease do tell me,
How much road tax and insurasnce have these road warriors paid to use the roads of this country? Simple answer NONE... Therein you have no rights to dictate to all those motorists who pay large sums of money year on year.......
What test do you have to pass before being let out on the roads to prove that you're safe to be on the road. Again......NONE....
This morning I have driven from Newcastle to Stoke, during this journey I saw 7 cyclists. In this short journey 2 of these were riding together, as they approached the pedestrian crossing in Hartshill the lights went to red. All the cars in both directions stopped as required in law. The 2 road warriors not even slowing down went straight through the red light.....
Do you condone this sort of criminal behaviour? They loose all respect from motorists when doing this....”
by meirhayflyer
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 10:01PM
“Focus386
and educate the driver who should of never passed there driving test to actually look for cyclist.
Mind no point you can kill anyone on cycle but week end warrior car drivers who are drunk can cause all the carnge they like.
you are on stupid man for god sake grow up......tossser”
by Focus386
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 8:05PM
“How about spending some the money educating some of the so called commuter cyclists and the weekend Lycra warriors in the ancient art of the road traffic act and the high way code.....
Footpaths are for pedestrians. Red lights mean YOU have to stop the same as other road users...”
by meirhayflyer
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 6:29PM
“maybe use the cash to improve commuter cyclist lot by improving cycle lanes etc. Thus making things better for both cyclist and drivers alike”
by Peter2010
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 2:59PM
“Need to know other sports costs to compare. How much does Port Vale cost the council? Brings something into the dead hole that is Burslem. How much does Stoke City cost the council? Not much for the prestige of a premier league club, I would say.
After 5 years it might be time for a change.”
by Anon_mow_cop
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 2:04PM
“"Putting Stoke on the map" is somebody having a joke, the last regular vistors to Stoke-on-Trent in any numbers were the German Luftwaffe.”