Businesses and residents around North Yorkshire are urged to make sure they know details of road closures and parking restrictions as the world’s biggest free sporting event, the Grand Depart of the Tour de France, is now less than three weeks away.
“This is a fantastic event, and the benefits to North Yorkshire will be enormous, both in the immediate term and the longer term through the cycling legacy work and through increased tourism. We want to make sure therefore that everything is in place to make it a huge success,” said County Councillor Gareth Dadd, Executive Member for Highways.
Yellow signs are now appearing along major routes in the area alerting residents to the Grand Depart parking restrictions and road closures.
As it is essential that the route and the access roads are kept clear during the preparation period and during the race itself, no vehicles will be permitted to park on the race route and there will be other access roads where parking will also be suspended in Harrogate town centre. Any vehicles left parked on the race route will be removed. Owners are responsible for finding a suitable alternative location to leave their vehicle.
- For the stage 1 route residents and businesses must move vehicles from 7:00 pm on Friday 4th July until the race has gone through and the road is re-opened.
- In Harrogate town centre vehicles will not be able to park on roads where parking has been suspended to accommodate the event from 12:01 am on Saturday 5th July. It is anticipated the suspension will be lifted from 10:00 pm on Saturday 5th July, but it could be later depending on spectator dispersal and the removal of race infrastructure.
- For the stage 2 route residents and businesses must move vehicles from 7:00 pm on Saturday 5th July until the race has gone through and the road is re-opened.
Details about the road closures and parking restrictions associated with the Grand Départ with all the latest information about anticipated timings of closures, traffic management, and diversion routes can be found on the North Yorkshire County Council’s website www.northyorks.gov.uk/tour
The authority also wants to clarify that the route will still be available for people to walk and cycle along for a period of time after it has been closed to all other traffic – up to approximately one hour before the publicity caravan passes through.
Cllr Dadd said: We want to ensure that the Grand Départ passes off smoothly for everyone – for the competitors, for the spectators, and for all other residents and highways users.
We are doing all we can to make sure that it is successful – and that as far as possible, disruption for everyone who needs to use our roads on the weekend of the 5th and 6th of July, and the days either side of the event, is kept to a minimum.
As well as details of road closures, the council’s website provides information for spectators; covering topics such as where to watch the race, the ease of access for different sites, and the location of car parks, campsites and events. More information about public transport arrangements, spectator hubs, park and ride facilities and access for those with disabilities over the race weekend is published on www.letouryorkshire.com/travel
Road closures and parking suspensions can be viewed in detail on the following web link:
