With the Tour of Britain race now just weeks away, the Isle of Wight council has released more important information to help residents prepare for the occasion.
Organisers require roads to be free of cars to ensure the safety of riders who will be reaching speeds of around 40mph on sections of the course.
Roads affected
A full list of the affected roads — along with details of alternative arrangements in areas where alternative parking has been made available — has now been made available and can be viewed via the Website.
Residents will be required to remove their car from the road if they live along the route.
This will need to be done by 6pm the previous night (Saturday 10th September) with parking restrictions remaining in place until the race passes the following day.
Cars left on the course will be removed
Cars left on the course will need to be removed in the interests of safety and will be relocated to a safe place nearby.
Residents will then need to ring the Isle of Wight council on 823800 to establish the vehicle location.
100 cyclists taking part
The Tour culminates on the Island on 11th September when around 100 of the world’s best cyclists will take on the 150-kilometre last leg of the series in what is believed to be the largest sporting event hosted by the Island.
The event will be broadcast live around the world giving the Island a global profile while residents will have a grandstand view of a major professional sporting event.
Rolling road closures
The race will inevitably have an impact on the highway network including a rolling road closure of between 30 minutes and an hour so riders can pass safely.
Longer closures will be necessary at the start on Ryde Seafront and along the finishing stretch — the Military Road at Chale to The Needles.
You can find out more about these rolling road closures via the Website.
Jordan: I hope residents see the value of supporting the event
Cllr Phil Jordan, Cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, said,
“This event will bring tremendous benefit to the Island in terms of raising our profile as a great place to live and visit, inspiring people to take up healthy outdoor pursuits and in allowing residents to see at close hand a top-class international sporting event.
“But there will inevitably be an impact — albeit a short-lived one — on the road network and we are asking Islanders to help us to move their cars away from the course to enable to race to take place as safely as possible.
“We realise this may cause some personal inconvenience, but I hope residents see the value of supporting the event and can make the necessary arrangements. Their co-operation really will be appreciated by all those involved in bringing this huge event to the Island.”
Parking arrangements will be one topic residents and businesses will be able to raise with organisers at four drop-in information sessions being organised by the Isle of Wight council.
The details of these are:
- Tuesday 23 August — Ryde
Ryde Castle
15:00 to 18:00hrs - Wednesday 24 August — Freshwater
West Wight Sports & Community Centre
15:00 to 18:00hrs - Thursday 25 August — Newport
Riverside Centre – Little London Room
15:00 to 18:00hrs - Wednesday 31 August — Cowes
Northwood House – Drawing Room
15:30 to 18:00hrs.
Besides the drop-in sessions, residents can learn more about the event on a dedicated page on the council’s Webpage and via Facebook.
You can see estimated times for the rolling road closures via the Website.
News shared by Isle of Wight council press office, in their own words. Ed
Image: © SWpix
