There will be major road closures across Caerphilly County Borough on Sunday June 14 as part of the Velothon Wales Cycle Race.
More than 15,000 cyclists will take part in the inaugural event and some roads will be closed for up to 12 hours.
Advanced signage is being placed along the route outlining the closure timings for each section.
Starting and finishing in the heart of Cardiff City Centre, the completely closed road 140km route will take the cyclists on a journey through Newport, Caerleon, Usk and the Brecon Beacons before heading south through Blaenavon, Pontypool, Caerphilly and back into Cardiff.
A spokesman for Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “It is inevitable that these types of major events will lead to disruption.
“The organisers require significant road closures to enable the event to proceed safely. Therefore we urge residents to plan ahead and ensure they are fully aware of the details and timings of the closures.
“Hopefully many people will come out to support the riders and enjoy the spectacle of this inaugural mass-participation event.”
For more information on which roads are affected visit the Velothon website www.velothon-wales.co.uk or call 0292 144 4880.
For a private company to be allowed to close roads, preventing businesses from opening, people getting to work, going to the airport, visiting friends or relatives and a dozen other reasonable activities is peculiar to say the least. The main road outside my house is to be closed for 12 hours and I am expected to be in work. In my case I am going into work in the early hours of Monday morning, with my normal Monday hours still to do. Many do not have this option and will lose a day’s wages.
This Velophon will cause major disruption so that a minority can have public roads to themselves to play on. I don’t believe I am alone in thinking this and hope that this is the last we we will see of this idea or that in future the roads are closed for a more reasonable time, say two to three hours. This will still disrupt normal life but at least there is a possibility of people being able to make alternative arrangements with employers, travelling, etc.
For a private company to be allowed to close roads, preventing businesses from opening, people getting to work, going to the airport, visiting friends or relatives and a dozen other reasonable activities is peculiar to say the least. The main road outside my house is to be closed for 12 hours and I am expected to be in work. In my case I am going into work in the early hours of Monday morning, with my normal Monday hours still to do. Many do not have this option and will lose a day’s wages.
This Velophon will cause major disruption so that a minority can have public roads to themselves to play on. I don’t believe I am alone in thinking this and hope that this is the last we we will see of this idea or that in future the roads are closed for a more reasonable time, say two to three hours. This will still disrupt normal life but at least there is a possibility of people being able to make alternative arrangements with employers, travelling, etc.
Get on your bike or walk to work, Aint you supposed to be a Cllr? Surely leading by example should be in order, i cycle to work every morning wind or rain back and for to Cardiff (over 25 miles a day) and its great, its healthy and keeps me fit..
I usually work Sundays, but I have the 14th booked as a holiday. The reason? I was well aware of the road closures months ago so made alternative arrangements in plenty of time. I can’t see why others could not have done the same.
I don’t always agree with the actions of the actions Welsh Government but in allowing this event to take place for 5 years I think they have made the right decision. The Velothon is a tourist event and most of the people taking part are from outside Wales. I have no problem with the road outside my house being closed for most of the day and being unable to drive my car, its not the end of the world. Myself and my children will be going for a walk along part of the course tomorrow, cheering the riders along. The Velothon is a minor inconvenience for me and will attract a lot of money into the Welsh economy in the future I am sure.
If you consider this to be a something which will attract of lot money into the Welsh Econony in the furture, please do explain how? and whilst you are working it out dont forget to deduct the £900,000 already taken out of Wales by the London Company who has had it paid into thier bank account in london, and therefore already spent by each resident and business in Wales on it. not to mention other costs born by the ratepayers in disruption and inconvenience, there is a cost to that regardless how comfortable the disruption and inconvenience sits with you and your family, not everyone enjoys the flexablity not to be able to work, and not to follow thier usual activities etc.
Caerphilly Council are happy to close miles of roads for up to 12 hours which will cause major inconvenience and disruption to thousands of it’s residents yet they won’t allow a local volunteer community group to use a few square metres of car park for 4 hours to hold a food market, shame on you Caerphilly Council you miserable lot.
This event is probably the worse organised, the worse communicated and the worse waste of public money event that one can, at this time of budget restraints, imagin.
Almost £1,000,000 of public money gifted b y the Welsh Assemblyto the London Private Company who `organised`(sic) it, and god knows how much more public money was spent on wasted police time, by Gwent and South Wales Police Forces ( more public money). Not to mention the hundred odd thousand pounds it has cost the ratepayers of Caerphilly Council, Cardiff City Council, Monmouth Council etc.etc just in clearing and cleaning, . hundreds of thousands of pounds lost by local Companies, Asda, for instance have already put the Welsh Assembly and the Private Company running this event on notice that they fully intend to make a hefty finacial claim for having to close their shops and the loss of business, wages paid to staff who could not get to work etc etc, based in part on the total meaningless phantom consultation both the Welsh Assembly Deputy Minister and the Event organisers insist took place, not with businesses it didnt, and not with residents, a Red Information leaflet posted through the door last week is not Consultation.
This even is a disaster for South East Wales. Contrary to flippant comments on this item from someone who said he had arranged a holiday, well, thats a good solution, everyone who would normally work today, book a holiday?, the effect would be, closed businesses, etc, There was NO public consultation on this event, it maybe that the organisers have taken a leaf out of Caerphilly Council`s events manual, and, rather than ` consult` effected residents, they tell everyone what they are going to do, like it or lump it.
Well, this event will need to be seriously altered if it is to be even considered to go ahead next year, no doubt about that. What a total waste of public money, and, what a totally disproportionate effect on the residents throughout the route of the bike ride.
Solution?, to get some money back for the public who are paying for it, charge each rider £20, for the privilage of riding on empty roads for 12 hours.15,000 x £20 = ? and so far as I am concerned that money can then be donated by the organisers to Cancer charities.
I agree with the comments regarding your Grandmother and some provision should be in place, However your comment about road tax is just planned Dull and your obviously not in touch with reality, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS ROAD TAX, Tax for your car is based on Omissions and guess what Bicycles don’t give off ommissions….Some people really need to get educated…
Wow so many negative comments, yes its an inconvenience but its well advertised in advance, Why don’t some of you trying getting off your bums and doing a bit of exercise, As for the numerous comments regarding Car Tax, people get educated you don’t pay Car TAX as it doesn’t exist, you pay for Omission’s and Bicycles and Walking don’t Cause Omission’s, as for Insurance most cyclist’s have a Car also which they pay Insurance on, Perhaps the local Councillors should try a day going to work on their bikes (if they have one) instead of driving a few miles in their gas guggling cars…God knows how half you would survive if we had a heavy snow fall….