Road closure moans ahead of National Road Race championships

Plans to close roads during the National Cycle Road Race Championships in Pendle, Lancashire, have been greeted with fury by local people.

In an echo of the on-going debate about road closures during the Etape Caledonia, which was hit by sabotage last year, residents in the Pendle area say they are 'disgusted' and claim not to have had a say in the matter.

At a meeting in the village of Barley this week, Ward Councillor for Pendleside James Starkie, who is co-ordinating the event on behalf of the villages, defended the event against a barrage of criticism, reported Pendle Today.

He said: "It is one day. It is 12 hours of your life but, of course, there will be a challenge.”

Pendle tourism and events manager Mr Vaughan Jones said everyone would still be able to go about their normal business. "You will be able to get to church on Sunday, get your meals on wheels and take the dog to the vets,” he said. “There will be inconveniences, there's no getting around it, but it is a really big, golden opportunity for us and I think it will be absolutely amazing."

But one objector told the meeting: "Do we have no say? We have heard a catalogue of errors and it doesn't convince us it is going to be well organised."

The objector also criticised the route, saying it was too small and "did not bode well for big boys on push bikes".

Another resident said: "I do not object to the race, but my main objection is to the council, which on its notepaper says 'Putting People First', is not considering the farming community at all and the problems it will cause."

Last year's event attracted big hitters Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish, Nicole Cooke and Emma Pooley and was won by Rapha Condor's Kristian House and Olympic Champion Nicole Cooke.

The race will be held over two days – Saturday, June 26th, and Sunday, June 27th – with temporary road closures around the route on the Sunday when the elite men's and women's races take place.

The route begins at Barley car park and goes up Barley Lane, along Black Moss Road and Wheathead Lane before dropping on to Blacko Bar Road into Roughlee, from where it will return to Barley.

Mark Sandamas, from organisers Pennine Events, said: "The road closures are looking to get taken out as soon as possible and as soon as it is safe. If anyone needs the emergency services, the race will be stopped. People's safety is our priority."

Coun Starkie added: "Most people are quite happy, but there will always be a few who find it quite difficult."