Council bids for 2016 Tour de Yorkshire

Scarborough Council will put the borough forward as a start or finish location for the 2016 Tour de Yorkshire cycle race.
TOUR DE YORKSHIRE 2015 --- Final section through Scarborough town centre on Stage 1 of the first Tour De Yorkshire bike race. // Riders make their way under the Spa Bridge past the Rotunda Museum. Friday 1st May 2015. HARRY ATKINSON REF:TOUR DE YORKSHIRE 2015 --- Final section through Scarborough town centre on Stage 1 of the first Tour De Yorkshire bike race. // Riders make their way under the Spa Bridge past the Rotunda Museum. Friday 1st May 2015. HARRY ATKINSON REF:
TOUR DE YORKSHIRE 2015 --- Final section through Scarborough town centre on Stage 1 of the first Tour De Yorkshire bike race. // Riders make their way under the Spa Bridge past the Rotunda Museum. Friday 1st May 2015. HARRY ATKINSON REF:

Following a vote this afternoon the authority has officially expressed an interest to organisers Welcome to Yorkshire and committed a possible £140,000 in funds if it is then chosen.

Scarborough’s Marine Drive was the finish line for stage one of the inaugural race in May, when an estimated 10,000 people flocked to the town to see riders including Sir Bradley Wiggins race through the streets.

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The race also took in locations including Whitby and Robin Hood’s Bay but, crucially in the eyes of one councillor, not Filey.

Speaking at today’s Full Council meeting the leader of the authority, Cllr Derek Bastiman, said the Tour de Yorkshire “benefited the entire borough”.

He was joined in welcoming a second bid by Cllr Bill Chatt.

He told his fellow councillors: “The sight of the children and their families lining the streets, gasping as the helicopter went overhead, then cheering on the riders was amazing and something I will always remember.

“We would be a fool to turn this opportunity away.”

However, there was not unanimous support for the race.

Filey’s UKIP councillor Colin Haddington said bidding for the race would benefit “Scarborough the town, not Scarborough the borough”.

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He pointed out the money could be better spent improving leisure facilities in the south of the borough.

The council voted in favour of expressing an interest and will find out later in the year if it has been successful.

A report produced for the meeting showed the race brought in around £1.7 million to the borough’s economy as well as broadcasting it to home around the world.