Newark and Sherwood District Council approves £30,000 budget for Newark Cycle Race in July
A budget of £30,000 has been allocated to fund the newly-announced Newark Cycle Race this summer.
The planned town centre race, described in council papers as something that could garner national attention and pump £188,000 into the area, would attract up to 3,000 spectators.
Set to take place this year on Friday, July 29 — the second-busiest Friday of the summer — the 1.2km early evening event will be the series finale in British Cycling’s calendar.
Newark Cycle Race will also include youth races, a regional semi-pro and junior race, as well as a community ride aimed at younger children and families — creating an energetic cycling atmosphere within the Royal Market.
With the route being within the town centre, a number of roads will have to be closed — including Cartergate and Lombard Street.
Policy and finance committee members at Newark and Sherwood District Council approved the allocation of funds which would cover infrastructure, traffic management and road closures, communications and marketing, and prize funding.
Around £10,000 was also allocated towards the Nottinghamshire leg of the Tour of Britain returning this September, a significant amount of which is said to be within Newark and Sherwood.
Matt Lamb, director of planning and growth at the district council, told the meeting: "Newark Cycle Race, this is in conjunction with British Cycling, it would appear on its national circuit series — in fact, it would be the last event on their circuit series.
"It's not dissimilar to the Barnsley town centre races and it's equally not without challenges, this will mean closure of town centre roads as part of the discussion — but will bring additional footfall and spend for the town."
Mr Lamb touched upon the Tour of Britain.
"The route has not yet been fixed but I'm aware members have seen various iterations of that route and have seen that has a significant portion not only within the district, but within the Sherwood area," he said.
"Because we're the largest authority in Nottinghamshire, we get a significant part of the route. There is an overall budget requirement of £180,000 to deliver the tour and we're seeking a contribution of £10,000 towards that."
He added the event would return again in the future and that the economic development committee on the council expressed appetite to host a start of finish stage of the tour.
Members were unanimous in their decision to financially support the cycle races.
