‘Tourist boom’ predicted in Tour de France aftermath

The feel-good factor surrounding the Tour de France has led to a remarkable sounding 25% of the country wanting to visit Yorkshire, according to a survey by a Leeds-based company and reported by the Darling and Stockton Times today.

It claims the county “is bracing itself for a tourist boom after hosting the biggest Grand Depart in the history of the world’s most famous cycle race.

“A third of the population’s opinion on Yorkshire was positively changed by the Tour – as shots of stunning Yorkshire countryside was beamed around the world. A study by ResearchBods found that 25 per cent of the UK now want to visit.”

The claims seem somewhat at odd to the experiences we’re hearing locally and if our poll is anything to go by. On Monday we asked how the race had impacted on you and while the majority of those who’ve cast a vote so far enjoyed the buzz of the event, few have translated that into increased booking or enquiries.

The sample is too small to draw too many conclusions currently so cast your vote here to make a difference.

Poll: Has the Tour de France given you a boost?

Now the dust is settling after a weekend which saw the cycling eyes of the world focussed on The Dales we’re wondering – how was it for you?

It’s generally considered to be ‘a good thing’ with many predicting a boost to our business and services across the board.

Take the stance taken by Richmondshire Council – on Friday elected representatives and officers issued a press release which bodly stated that “the benefit will be seen across the region as visitors from abroad and the whole of the United Kingdom put the Yorkshire Dales National Park on their ‘to visit list’ so that they too can experience the unique Yorkshire pride, welcome and friendliness for themselves.”

Although there’s no figure attached to the predictions, it’s widely portrayed that the lasting legacy of the race will be in increase in trade and services, as it goes on to declare….

The outlook for the district is set to be bright as local businesses and services make the most of the glory that the Tour has generated.

So how has it impacted on you? Maybe there’s simply a feel-good factor that you’re celebrating or possibly you can point to an increase in sales, bookings, enquiries or whatever for your enterprise.

We’d love to hear how the Tour de France has affected you so please do get in touch via the comments or email richmondnoticeboardATgmail.com.

Your pictures: Tour de France Grand Depart 2014

Buttertubs Pass: Picture Courtesy of Welcome to Yorkshire

Well it’s not long now! The opening ceremony is going on in Leeds this evening and then the weekend will see the best cyclists in the world venturing along Buttertubs.

Whether you’re lining the route cheering them on, celebrating at a themed party or simply enjoying the various artworks and events – we want to share your pictures and videos right here.

Join the celebrations

Tonight’s Team Presentation Ceremony is a traditional part of the Tour de France, when two days before the start of the race the riders are presented to the crowds at the location chosen for the Grand Depart. Tonight the 198 riders competing in the 2014 race are on stage at the Leeds Arena as part of a spectacular welcome by the people of Yorkshire to mark the start of the 101st Tour de France, only the fourth time the Tour has come to the UK.

Earlier this evening the Tour de France teams rode through the centre of Leeds – led by a group of cyclists from local clubs and community groups, as they made their way from the team briefing at the University of Leeds to the Arena, cheered on by the waiting crowds at the start of a weekend of celebration across Yorkshire and the UK.

Now the event publicity is over, we’ve turned the dedicated Tour de France noticeboard over for you to easily post pictures and videos of the big event. Simply click here to take part.

Tour de France: Where to watch, park and visit on the Richmondshire leg

With just three days to go, Richmondshire District Council has issued the following advice and information ahead of Saturday’s leg in the district.


Websites detailed below give up to date information on where to watch the race as well as where to find information on the delays and route diversions expected from Thursday July 3.

Road closures will be in place at least eight hours in advance of the start of the race so keep an eye on the various websites and social media to keep fully up to date with information and progress.

One of the best places to watch the race unfold will be at one the Grand Départ Spectator Hubs in Hawes, Aysgarth and Leyburn.  With free admission, the Grand Départ Spectator Hubs will have a big screen providing live coverage of the race together with refreshments, entertainment and toilets.

Hubs will be accessible to all to fulfil the ambition to make this the most inclusive Le Tour ever as the biggest annual sporting event in the world comes to Yorkshire.

Middleham, Reeth, and Bainbridge offer great viewing of Le Tour whilst enjoying the special events that are being staged there.  Muker has its King of the Mountain Festival and Hawes has free open air Market Place pop music concerts on both Friday and Saturday evening.

Richmondshire District Council advises people to arrive very early to watch the race whether that be in a Hub or to line the route.

In order to house all the extra visitors temporary car parks and campsites have sprung up all over the area in preparation for this unique event so keep in touch with the websites to be up to date and informed on the Tour.

440 vehicles will travel on the race route over a three hour period, including the peloton and 180 publicity vehicles giving freebies to the spectators. The publicity vehicles will enter Bishopdale at 11.40 hours on 5 July and the riders will follow two hours later.

Le Tour will leave Richmondshire via Jervaulx at around 15.25 hours. The peloton will cover 48 miles though the beautiful Richmondshire countryside.

It will be a once in a lifetime event and can be enjoyed by the whole family.

For further information visit the following websites:

• 

Richmondshire District Council.
• North Yorkshire County Council.
• 
Welcome to Yorkshire.

Tour De France events in Richmond

With just a week to go until The Grand Départ, there is certainly more to look forward in Richmond than just race itself.

The town will see a multicultural transformation for the event, with pubs adding a continental twist to their names such as The Buck Auberge, and Le Unicorn as well as several wine tasting events.

So if forking out twenty pounds to park your caravan in a field, just to see five seconds of zooming men in lycra doesn’t sounds like your slice of cheese, then regarder au-dessous:

Richmond Pub and Wine Trail – Starting at either the Holly Hill or The Ship (make sure to pick up a map if you’re committed to completing it).

Richmond Bus Tour (number 31) – Panoramic bus tours of Richmond will be running every two hours from 8am.

July 3 at Richmond Town Twinning with Saint Aubin du Cormier – July 3, Richmond Town Hall at 7.30pm.

Live music – Held in The Ship (or La Navire) every Friday,  Richmond Comrades Club between July 2 – July 7 from 7.30pm,  Saturday nights at the Castle Tavern, and most Friday nights at the Golden Lion.

July 18 – 20 is Woolcombers Festival at Bishop Blaize.

July 4 at the Cricket Club – Wine tasting evening from 7.30pm.

More to follow*

Le Tour yellow bin tags cost £1,900

The special yellow tags being produced as part of the Tour de France celebrations are costing £1,900. Responding to readers who asked us that question when the tags were announced last week, Richmondshire Council says the cost for the 24,000 tags equates to 7p per household or 3p for every resident.

The money is allocated from the funding provided for the council to help cover the costs of the world’s biggest cycling race visiting the district.

A free bin tag for the Tour de France

Well what can we say? The council is really spoiling us. In a press release issued yesterday, Richmondshire Council says:

Richmondshire District Council is showing its support for Le Tour de France Grand Depart ‘Turning Yorkshire Yellow’ campaign by creating bright yellow bin tags.

All households across Richmondshire will receive a bin tag – a helpful mini-guide which will give information about Le Tour coming to Yorkshire and how Le Tour will affect the residents and local community.

They will highlight information on where to watch the race as well as where to find information on the delays and route diversions expected from Thursday 3 July when it is hoped that the number of visitors to the area will increase. Road closures will be in place at least 8 hours in advance of the start of the race.

One of the best places to watch the race unfold will be in one of the Grand Départ Spectator Hubs; they will be set up in Hawes, Aysgarth and Leyburn. With free admission, the Grand Départ Spectator Hubs will have a big screen providing live coverage of the race together with refreshments, entertainment and toilets. Hubs will be accessible to all with an ambition to make this the most inclusive Le Tour ever as the biggest annual sporting event in the world comes to Yorkshire.
Richmondshire District Council advises people to arrive early to watch the race whether that be in a Hub or to line the route.

In order to house all the extra visitors to Richmondshire there will be temporary car parks and campsites springing up all over the area in preparation for this unique – and exciting event so keep in touch with the websites detailed below to be up to date and informed on Le Tour de France in Yorkshire.

On the Day…

440 vehicles will travel on the race route over a three hour period, including the peloton and 180 publicity vehicles giving freebies to the watching spectators. The publicity vehicles will enter Bishopdale at 11.40 hours on 5 July and the riders will follow two hours later. Le Tour will leave Richmondshire via Jervaulx at around 15.25 hours. The peloton will cover 48 miles though the beautiful Richmondshire countryside. It will be a once in a lifetime event and can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Tour de France trophy – on tour!

Well this is what it looks like – Le Tour Grand Départ Trophy.

The Trophy visited the district council’s Mercury House HQ and was shown to members, staff and the Richmondshire Tour De France Command Centre (Bronze command pictured) with all the emergency services teams, mountain rescue, highways, MOD and Pennine events.

It also called in at Tennant’s Auction Centre in Leyburn and Richmond School before moving on to Scarborough.

A press release issued by the council says the official Grand Départ trophy is held each year by the area or city hosting the start of the legendary cycle race. It was created by the Tour de France organisers Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) and was presented for the first time last year to the island of Corsica which hosted the Grand Départ of the Centenary Tour.
 
At the conclusion of the race, won by Britain’s Chris Froome, the trophy was officially passed over on the finish line on the Champs-Élysées by President of the Executive Council of Corsica Paul Giacobbi to Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire Gary Verity who led the bid to bring the Tour de France to Yorkshire.
 
With less than 66 days until the world’s largest cycle ride arrives in Richmondshire the excitement is building. Richmondshire will welcome ‘Le Tour’ as part of Stage 1 of the Grand Départ on Saturday 5 July 2014. Cyclists will ride along 48 miles of the districts roads, through the stunning Dales countryside including a breathtaking ride across the iconic Buttertubs.

* If you’re organising a Tour de France related event, don’t forget we have a noticeboard available to share the details for free right here.

‘How we won the Tour de France’ and other Tuesday tales

On tonight
David Shields of Welcome to Yorkshire, outlines the strategy, planning and marketing techniques that were employed in winning the prestigious Tour de France event for this summer. Register for this fee event at http://www.cim.co.uk/Events/EventDetails.aspx?crid=61439 or email: cimevents@cim.co.uk Arrive at 18.00, the event starts at 18:30 and finishes at 20:00 at the Holiday Inn, Scotch Corner.

All the other events on tonight, including a meeting of the council’s strategy board and The Book Thief at The Station can be found at our noticeboard for March events here.

And don’t forget, the noticeboard for April is also now open for you to share events for free.

Do you have a story you’d like to see featured here in the newsletter, on Twitter @RichmondNYorks or Facebook. You can let us know right here.

Lack of cash take-up for Tour de France grants plus what’s on for the weekend

Less than a quarter of the Tour de France funding available to local groups has been claimed to date.

Richmondshire District Council set up a £20,000 Tour De France fund five months ago to help support the many activities being planned across the district to make the Grand Depart event the very best spectator experience on July 5.

But to date only £4,700 has been allocated

The grant available is for a maximum of £500 and application forms are available here.

And if you’re organising an event to celebrate the Tour de France, don’t forget we have a free noticeboard to help promote it online, on Twitter @RichmondNYorks, Facebook and the daily newsletter. Post your event directly here. 

What’s on
Looking for something to do at the weekend? Don’t forget to check out everything that’s happening in Richmond during March right here.

Do you have a story you’d like to see featured here in the newsletter, on Twitter <a href=”http://www.twitter.com/RichmondNYorks&#8221; target=”_blank”>@RichmondNYorks</a> or <a href=”https://www.facebook.com/pages/Richmond-Noticeboard/547135022049599&#8243; target=”_blank”>Facebook</a>. <a href=”http://www.richmondnoticeboard.me/stories/suggestastory”>You can let us know right here</a>.