Pendle Council gears up for Tour of Britain

Pendle Council is gearing up to host the finish of Stage Two of the Aviva Tour of Britain which will power through the borough on Monday September 7.

Stage Two, Ribble Valley and Pendle, Clitheroe to Colne, is being hosted in partnership with Ribble Valley Borough Council.

It will start in Clitheroe town centre and come to an exciting climax in Colne town centre as the cyclists battle to cross the finish line.

On Thursday June 25, Executive councillors approved a request to set aside an additional £50,000 to help make the Tour a big success when it wheels through the borough’s towns and villages.

Vince Green, Financial Services Manager, explained: “It was initially estimated that the cost of bringing the race to Pendle would be £100,000.

“However, it’s difficult to predict the final cost of hosting a stage which is why the Executive approved an additional £50,000.”

Councillor Mohammed Iqbal, Leader of Pendle Council, added: “We’re fully signed up to host the finish of Stage Two and we want to make sure that our local economy really benefits from this fantastic opportunity.

“There’s a lot involved in bringing the country’s biggest and best bike professional bike race to Pendle and it’s important we have the right resources behind us.

“It’s clear that the previous allocation of £100,000 was not enough.

“And due to the legal contract being signed before I became leader, I felt it necessary to approve this additional cost to ensure we showcase Pendle on the day of the race.”

Councillor David Whipp, Chairman of Pendle’s Tour of Britain working group added: “Bringing the Tour of Britain to Pendle is a major coup but it does mean we have a lot of work to do to make sure it runs smoothly on the day.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to show the world what a beautiful place Pendle is and hopefully create a lasting legacy of attracting even more visitors to the area.”

Pendle Council has had a fantastic response to its sponsorship packages and still has some available ranging from £10,000 to £250.

If you’re interested in taking out a sponsorship package, please contact Alice Barnett on (01282) 661780.

For further information please contact: Alice Barnett, Communications Team, Chief Executive's Policy Unit, Pendle Council, Town Hall, Market Street, Nelson, BB9 7LG

Tel: 01282 661780