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Cycle Marathon’s Future: Mystery
ONCE AGAIN we may be peddling into an almighty bust-up over the staging of another cycle marathon next year which could be much the same as the event held this year in June.
On the one hand, no official decision has been taken to stage a second Etape Caledonia race. Indeed, a consultation meeting is being held at Weem Hotel on the day that this edition of Comment is due to be distributed.
On the other hand, the Etape company and certain P&K luminaries are letting us believe that the date of 18 May 2008 is all but agreed – without methodically seeking the consensus of opinion in Highland Perthshire.
If so, then the local authority will commit the same mistake that it made this time last year when Etape won P&K backing – and a £20,000 grant - with few locally being given the opportunity to air views upon the implications.
If so, then once again it would mean the closure of some 80 miles of local roads for five hours or more, and thus the enforced closure of many local businesses to whom road access will be denied.
If so, then once more the compliance of routeside residents with access restictions will be legally enforced.
Proper Consultation
There is still hope that Perth and Kinross and the organisers will have learned from past experience and allow for proper consultation and enough time to rethink and renegotiate the event - both in terms of its timing and its staging.
Undoubtedly, many people would be in favour of a cycle marathon - provided it genuinely benefits established businesses, and popularises Highland Perthshire as a tourist destination.
There is an accepted need - and underlying warm support locally - for events that bring people into the area when there are fewer reasons for tourists to be here – such as in March or November.
Questions consistently raised by numerous locals, concerning aspects of the 2008 event proposals, remain steadfastly unanswered - see page 4.
Perhaps, therefore, there can be some last minute rethinking about the proposal for an ‘Etape Marathon Lite’, staged no sooner than late 2008 or early 2009. That certainly would garner the support of the bulk of the community and help to build a consensus among the commercial operations that might stand to lose most.
Consenus Dividend
It is surely unthinkable that ‘token consultation’ would once again attempt to stick an Elastoplast on the fractured faith fostered in the lead up to the event this June. Besides, there is a large dividend to be gained from avoiding an outbreak of community conflict over the issue.
For example, it has been reported that the cost of the marshalling alone this year came to £28,000. If the hearts, minds, experience and voluntary goodwill of local people could be secured and mobilised, then the bulk of that could be saved for use in other aspects of the event.
There are also other value-adding benefits to be achieved by shaping the matter up correctly within the community.
Alternatively, if - as feared - the date of 18 May will be rubber-stamped - the anger, particularly among the farming community - is likely to be even greater than before.
As Comment went to press, Cllr John Kellas, as convenor of P&K’s economic development and Infrastructure committee with which the final decision lies, was still maintaining that he had an open mind and was gauging local feelings before putting the matter to a vote.
The 14 November meeting at Weem Hotel with invited representatives of the local community and businesses looks set to be a key sounding board for him.
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