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Informants' Comments from Poll Forms

Transcriptions of the ‘comments’ section of the Poll forms for

Evaluation of Etape Caledonia Cycle Event

My (Pitlochry shop) took only £5 on the day. Only 1 visitor connected to the race & didn’t buy. Takings for the days before and after were significantly down.

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A wonderful event, roll on 2008.

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Signed, A Prisoner!

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I live on the last part of the route (longest closure) and did not get any correspondence until 10 days before the event, when I then received 6 letters.  My road was closed 1 ¼ hours, 1 ¼ hours before its due time.  I found the whole event a bit of a damp squib as media also seemed not very interested in an event that was a ‘first’.

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The only problem I have with this event was the lack of transparency in the initial consultation and what seemed like the complete lack of local consultation at the early planning stage of the cycle event.

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Strongly object to public money being used to underwrite a private company’s event, other events such as marathons, iron man events, triathlons, tractor road runs etc can be run on public roads with careful marshalling.  Why close roads and imprison people in their own homes!

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We welcome the idea of a cycling event, but the effect of road closures must be assessed.  I had to be in Dundee on the Saturday night and it was impossible to get back for the Fortingall Church service, we usually have respite foster children at the weekend but it was impossible that weekend – getting to Perth would mean going via Killin and Loch Earn.  I pointed this out to P&K and Etape but got no response.

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Business and organisations in Aberfeldy/Strathtay/Weem area negatively affected, although I believe Pitlochry businesses benefited.  Unbalanced: area most affected by closure obtained least benefit financially.

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Until the genuinely measured success/failure of the 2007 event is known and published it would be premature to rule out the possibility of it being repeated, but if such proposal is justified, it is absolutely essential that P&K/Etape greatly improve their consultation/communication practices.

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The communication process was frequent however neither Council/Etape seemed to communicate with each other.  Route changes were frequent and difficult to understand

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Much better organisation needed.  Less closure of local roads.  More consultation,

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I believe we should fight tooth and nail against this happening again as it is so incredibly unfair on those adversely affected.  However, if we are forced to endure it again it should be run over different routes as the pain of it can be spread,  Perhaps then those who didn’t think it was so bad can get a real feel for it. Many people have to work on a Sunday – It’s simply wrong!

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I honestly believe it is so wrong to discriminate against one section of the community, especially the business community affected, for the benefit of the other section it should be made illegal to close large sections of the public road network for a social/economic event.  It is fundamentally unfair.

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I was delayed by approx. 45 mins travelling south on the A9 in a queue caused by the traffic management system for the diversion to turn right to Dalguise.  Not impressed.  I was travelling to Edinburgh.

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My shop was closed on Sundays, so it didn’t matter to me but some were affected.

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As I live in Blair Atholl and work at Pitlochry Festival theatre (not on duty on 24th June) I was not personally inconvenienced.

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Etape Caledonia’s pre-event communication was very bad.  Having cancelled a family visit as our road was to be closed off that day, I only learned by chance of the re-routing which did not affect our road, too late to reinstate the visit.

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All for events, but no road closures, other things are run with no closures.  We had a very quiet day in shop it Pitlochry – people didn’t make it up our end of Atholl Road.

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A lot of very bad feeling around town about this event.  Can’t seem that it did any good for the area.

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I believe P&K dropped the ball on this one.  PR disaster.

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Didn’t bother to watch, lot of hype for nothing.

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As a resident of Atholl Road living next to the start/finish line, we had no consultation from Etape Caledonia or Perth & Kinross Council and being kept awake from 2.30am by the noise of workmen putting up barriers – putting out cones.  I had to start work at 6am and couldn’t get my car out.  I was also refused access to my home when I finished at 10am.

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Thank you for the opportunity to express my views on Etape Caledonia’s (Et Cal) recent cycling event.

No councillors consulted or communicated before the event.  I consulted a councillor after the event.  He said the main effect was the potential to make money.  I disagreed.  The main effect was that residents along the route had their liberty of movement and in some cases livelihood, taken for the main part of the day.  Other road events in this area have not needed the closure of the roads which have no alternative.  Griffin forest area would make a more suitable venue, for instance.  Before the event Et Cal consulted not at all and communicated with some residents.  Mostly those in Aberfeldy who were not affected by road closures and could be persuaded at the time of the meeting, that businesses would benefit.  The rest of us either had no invitation to the meeting or were invited over two weeks after the evening of the meeting.  Many people may well not complain or think it is a ‘fait accompli’ we have to have the event year after year. 

‘Comment’ reported that businesses along the route had lost money and were having difficulty in obtaining compensation.  Farmer would have been impeded in bringing silage along the route if the weather had been fine.  Single handed farmers may need to use the roads every day of the year. 

I was not able to get to church because of the closed roads.  The church itself had to be closed because of lack of access that day.  We were not able to have a long standing yearly lunch date with a friend on his way North.

It is unacceptable that a private firm should take public money to subsidise able bodies, independent adults in denying us our means of movement and in some cases livelihood for an event that benefits no-one.  How can people spend money on closed roads with no alternative?

I hope ‘Comment’ continues to pursue a public debate so the views of residents and owners of businesses who have not been consulted on Et Cal’s public money wasting and movement restricting event can be made known and hopefully acted on.

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Hold early or late in the season.

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As some retailers etc were in favour of the event, I hope they will not be ‘selective’ in which forms they return to you. 

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If Etape Caledonia is to be run again in 2008 –

1. Consider other (off road?) routes.

2. Consider other dates out of high season.

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Pre-event consultation & communication by both P&K and Etape Caledonia would need to be vastly improved, esp consultation over dates and times.

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We left the area for the weekend of the race as we did not want to be trapped at home against our will.  Proper consultation may change our opinion but I object to our money being spent in this way.

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The consensus is that the whole event was a ‘fait accompli’ before consultation.  The actual public meeting should have been considering 2008 as it was held too close to the actual date of the event.

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Socially this caused difficulty, church services, mobility to move during period.  If this has to happen next year, it is only equitable that it is over roads not affected this year.

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Who are Etape Caledonia?  A little publicity about the event on TV, Courier or PA wouldn’t have gone amiss.

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Visitors complained about signage or lack of it on the A9 and the fact that whey they arrived in Logierait there were no diversion signs.

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No need to close WHOLE road.  Numbers of competitors nowhere near stated numbers.  Passed my house in Fortingall in 2’s and 3’s and in single file.  We were inconvenienced for a complete non-event.

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I was most impressed by the organisation of the event and was disappointed by the negative attitude of the local people.

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GO AWAY

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With consultation, events could have been organised on the main street of Pitlochry, to encourage people to mingle in the town and not, as they did, get off at the finishing line and jump into their cars and leave.  The closure of the roads was also unnecessary as people who had taken part in a similar event a couple of weeks beforehand, said that in the 5 Dales event they passed through a number of villages with no road closure.

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P & K Council’s high handedness and hype has caused significant damage to its credibility as our local governors.

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Business does not operate on a Sunday but as 2nd tier B&B’s etc ought to benefit if they saw great increase in usage.  None seen.  Should NOT be run on a Sunday and not in main season – April-May?

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Use summer solstice to hold race late evening into early morning?  Rotate the venue!  Biggest group of cyclists I saw consisted of 13 (5 miles west of ‘feldy).  Roads not closed for triathlons etc.  Freed to attend church of choice!

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A doubly-disabled friend (Parkinsons Disease and Osteoporosis) had arranged to visit on mid-summer weekend well before the event was announced – she could not change her arrangements.  In order not to be trapped in our own home, we had to get her up at 6am in order to leave the area before the roads were closed.  We went outside Perthshire and spent well into excess of £100 elsewhere- Perthshire loss. 

We were also annoyed to see that cones had been placed in every house drive and fiend entry.  Talk about being imprisoned!  Mr K Stewart remarked he resented the attitude(s) of the Aberfeldy (& surrounding areas), residents to him and his company.  I resent being held hostage in my own home for 4 hours (approx) and find that Perth & Kinross Council most willingly agreed to pay £20,000 to cover any loss incurred this year this money was to be paid to a private business company, ie not even a national event.  It “beggars” belief! 

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Poor Consultation – and arrogant attitude.

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1.  There was little or no consultation.  What occurred was too late.

2.  I had no customers.  Normally we operate at full pitch at w/e’s.

3.  Our ability to travel, socialise, and go to church was seriously disrupted.

4.  We could not carry out other rural operations.  Moving cattle/sheep etc. 

5.  The tone of the letters I received from Etap were arrogant & presumptive. 

The Council never bothered to reply formally.  I would not support this event here going forward.  It’s too invasive and restrictive on every aspect of our lives & fabric.

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Litter left behind not cleaned up.  Advised 48 hours later and they sent someone to check.  Photos available of same.  One person hypothermia, whom we assisted – no follow-up.  Did the person survive?

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So many half truths and downright lies from the organisers and P & K, we should definitely have an inquiry into how a few Council officials could be allowed to use public funds to be given to a private company without having express permission from local residents and businesses.

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Q9 – Do you feel the Etape Caledonia should be run again in 2008 – it is very date dependent, we would welcome it in April or May (outwith Bank holiday w/ends)

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This did not benefit any other town except Pitlochry because the start/finish line was in Pitlochry and the event caused major disruption for people travelling in and out of Aberfeldy as all the roads were closed!

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Showed P&K Council to be ill informed, inept, arrogant, unwilling to admit their errors and generally failing in their public duty.

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Aberfeldy people in town decreased, I was a supporter but weather didn’t help.  As a big event supporter eg Blair Atholl H.Trials, I felt this was enforced and over-subsidised by P & K Council.

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Only an OAP Church attending resident – outraged by the steam rollering by P & K & Etape.

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No value whatsoever in terms of business. No spectator interest round Coshieville, Fortingall, Duneaves Road.  Only a lot of disruption to normal routine.  Speed limit could have been imposed on drivers to ensure cyclists safety on route.

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The idea of bringing a major sporting event to Highland Perthshire is commendable but should not subsidise a private profit-making company with council tax revenue and better/some consultation must be done in advance.

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The event was certainly good PR for Highland Perthshire and that is difficult to measure financially – individual businesses lost money on Sunday, how much would they have taken on such a dreich day?  If the event was in springtime and the finish line didn’t close Atholl Road for the whole day maybe it should come back.

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The road to our business was closed from 10am-3.30pm – so we obviously did nothing that day.  A complete disaster, we couldn’t even get out of the house.  Absolutely ridiculous.

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Aberfeldy people had all the disruption, could only use Crieff and had no benefits at all.  Our business suffered, down ¼ on normal business.  Why should we have to suffer so that Etape can make a gain!

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A lost Sunday for us – no church, no papers & no Sunday lunch at Weem.

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Use the money to encourage non-event cycling eg assisted train tickets, bike racks on buses etc.  We do not need massed road events.

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If, after proper consultation/communication with local people, the event goes ahead in 2008, it should take place outwith high tourist season.

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2 cyclists booked in B&B for 2 nights, they neither showed up or had the politeness to ring and cancel.

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Business was 16% down, taking into consideration the previous 3 Sundays.  Out of that 16%, I don’t know what percentage was down to the weather on the day (rain) – say 6%.  Overall down 10%.

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English event – run it in future in the Yorkshire Dales, away from population centres!  No advantage to Scotland whatsoever.

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Sack McDonald!!

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Happy to complete survey but do not believe this is a well set out questionnaire.

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As a regular weekend visitor, I have met cycle races before, which haven’t caused any problems apart from the lack of notification.  The signs have been up but neither the day or time have been indicated.  It was more awkward when we towed a caravan.  With all the write up with this race I took no chances – I stayed home that weekend and would so the same in future years.

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I feel ‘Etape Caledonia Cycle Event’ did nothing for Aberfeldy town – it reduced it to a “Ghost Town” at a time of the year when we enjoy the influx of visitors.  I hope it will not happen again.

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Probs getting home from work.

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Why is this event run in June?  It would be better for rural people if run in early spring – etc.  Most of us have to work 7 days a week.

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A planned trip to Loch Rannoch on 24th June had to be cancelled in view of this area being part of the Etape Caledonia route.

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From a well known singer (from Largs) “It was sheer magic knowing nothing was coming fast the other way on corners as well as the stunning scenery.”

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We never received a communication concerning road closures/event  even though we would be unable to leave our house.  Only heard about event through Community Council meeting and Comment.  Having previously stayed in the borders we are used to road closures due to Jim Clark Memorial Rally.  Perth & Kinross Council and Etap should speak to organisers of Jim Clark Rally to find out how it should be done properly and gain the support of local residents.

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There has been an orchestrated campaign against Etape Caledonian by some self-interested business people, farmers who themselves are heavily subsidised, and church ‘fundies’ who thought the Sabbath was being desecrated.  But most people realise that Highland Perthshire depends on the tourist trade and think that the event put this area on the map and should be repeated.

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Lack of consultation led to the negative effects.  We answered c) Don’t Know to Q9 – Do you feel the Etape Caledonia should be run again in 2008? As it depends on timing.  The timing of the event was completely wrong – our B&B had been full for 6 months for that weekend – the impact was negative because visitors were not anticipating it.  If the Etape was run in October or March the impact would be positive.  P&K stated they had consulted the tourist industry over timing.  Who did they consult?  Certainly not providers on the ground!  Probably VisitScotland!

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I’m not one to reply to these questionnaires (routinely or even infrequently) but felt sufficiently strongly motivated by this event to feel the need to make my opinion known.  It seemed rather absurd that ‘the powers that be’ considered it warranted the closures of several important local routes on the day of the event, cos I imagine such action would have been inconceivable and illegal just a few years ago!!  I sincerely hope it never happens again (in this area).

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Better organised and it might work.

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I personally feel that this area is unsuitable for such an event.  It would be entirely possible to host a cycling event on official cycle tracks without disruption to traffic.  Afterwards I thought it was strange and upsetting to see the cones that had blocked driveways when I drove past.  This was a form of imprisonment. 

- A concerned long term resident and keen cyclist!

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It is difficult to think of a poorer piece of planning – and it is infuriating to have “official” comments that were untrue.

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1. Would be better run not in peak season.

2. Designated spectator areas.

3. More notices to inform local accommodation providers.

4. Build on success – don’t knock what works!!!

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The world doesn’t revolve round B&B’s and Tartan Tat Shops.  Moan, moan, moan, it’s all people of Pitlochry ever do.  Where did all these people stay and eat?

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I feel that race should have started/finished outside of Pitlochry and that the roads should not have been closed for so long a time, preventing people from leaving hotels etc.  I also believe some hotels doubled their tariffs for this weekend.  I feel the race should be held at a quieter time of year.

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If Etape Caledonia can take over our roads – who will be next?  Why should a private entity be allowed to close public roads?  We pay taxes to use these road and we object to not having the freedom when we want/need the roads.  There are so many other ways to bring business to the area and we find it was most inconvenient.

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Q5 – How Satisfied were you with Etape Caledonia’s pre-event communication process?

*Notification arrives in post morning of meeting.

Q9 – Do you feel the Etape Caledonia should be run again in 2008?

*Not if road closures are involved as this year.

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I’m fed up with the continual ‘knocking’ which has portrayed Aberfeldy as a bunch of NIMBY’S.  Sure the consultation was brief but learn, grow up and move on.  Use the publicity to our advantage for next year and beyond.

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This could have been an excellent event if only P&K had acted in a responsible business-like manner over the shoulders of the holiday season & pre-event consultation.

From an un-biased Aberfeldy Businessman.

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As tourism seems to be the big selling point here, I feel it is damaging to tourism when ‘normal’ tourists cannot move around freely while in the area, as was the case.  I strongly object to grants being given to this company.  They could/should have the interests of residents at heart.

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How dare Perth & Kinross Council give cash to a private company, when this company is not in this area, contributes nothing to local council tax.  The arrogance of certain councillors is outrageous.

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Chose to go away for the weekend rather than be trapped in our house (Coshieville) for the Sunday of the race.

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I am usually very philosophical about these matters but I think the way P&K Council handled the whole event was an outrage.  They showed a total lack of consideration for local residents (who all pay council tax) who far outnumbered the cyclists.  I really wish we had all rebelled by driving on the roads en-masse.

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Given that many local residents must drive to get to work, sending a map of the route and likely disruption to roads to all local area residents should have happened.  The clarity of the map that was produced and sent to limited locals was very poor indeed and especially unclear around Pitlochry.

Q. Who Profited from the Event?

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Perhaps next time they wish to run an event asking local people not telling them would be better!

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Amongst the majority of Aberfeldy residents 101% disgust at the ‘gift’ of a 5 figure amount of Council Tax monies with no agreement from Aberfeldy (1 person @ meeting due to bad weather) NO agreement from us.  Can we assume our next years’ C/Tax to be reduced collectively by that 5 figure amount since it MUST have been excess, so we look forward to that reduction.

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Hard to imagine a less democratic ‘consultative’ process – we were told not asked.  Decisions were taken before any opportunity for input.  Commercial gain of a London business should not be put ahead of needs/interests of residents.  Post-event consultation a sham!

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Is your paper against the event itself or how it was organised.  I get the impression both which is sad, people outside our area must be appalled to read such negative comments.

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Letting of four holiday cottages:

1. Turnover of tenants not affected because that takes place on Saturdays, BUT

2. Tenants effectively lose one day of their holiday for sightseeing etc.

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I contacted Etape to ask about how I could leave my home (as I live on the route) to attend a prior arranged conference or who would pay my hotel bill if I left home on the Saturday evening.  I sent my email in April – not unit I sent a further email in June did I receive a reply – which basically told me tough luck – get on with it.

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Such events are extremely important and we should be proud that they happen here.  Look at the prestige that the Tour de France brought to London!!

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£2k + Business lost as a direct consequence of this event, the projected benefit of which was grossly exaggerated from the start

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The event should not be run in mid-summer, much better to have it in the autumn when the area needs more visitors.

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Both P+K Council + Etape Caledonia have been totally arrogant and dismissive of local views on this issue. Both parties have issued post event statements which would make one believe that it was a success both for them and local business not a view shared by myself

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A detour from Weem into and around Aberfeldy would add some commercial benefit to Aberfeldy area as local interest and include all areas. The route could be planned not to further disrupt local cycle events on a smaller scale could be introduced to create awareness and enjoyment of road cyclists at the same time as road closure.

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At no time did we receive a communication form either the council or Etape Caledonia!

We live on the route and were very inconvenienced. We resented the cones across our drive way.

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We felt that the numbers of cyclists did not justify a road closure. I work most Sundays from 6am – 1pm and have to leave early to get home, I don’t see what gives the cyclists any more rights than for us to get too & from work, especially as it seemed to be only Pitlochry benefiting – Aberfeldy was like a ghost town.

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It appeared that the event was agreed prior to any consultation taking place. How many participants actually stayed over on the Saturday evening?

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There appeared to have been a complete lack of consultation, the event was presented as almost pre-ordained by the council. It is unacceptable that small businesses should be expected to suffer- never again.

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As a resident on an un-named road near Pitlochry I am disgusted as to the maintenance this road received prior to cycle event – drains & ditches cleaned out – pot holes filled – then on Saturday before a road side sweeper –(private contractor too) this annoyed me as this road hardly gets any maintenance  the roadside were even cut. It is part of normal cycle track and I feel cyclists expect vehicles to be on it. The local farmers have to use this road. The council have wasted money on this event that should have been spent on better essential things.

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I met a few cyclists who had never visited Perthshire before and said they were bringing their families back for a holiday in August. They said it was one of the best events and locations they had ever been to.

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Having this area on TV can only be good publicity.

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Having been unable to reach my place of work in Kinloch Rannoch because the road from Tummel bridge was closed I was less than pleased to sit in my house reading the papers, unable to go anywhere, and watch vehicles which I presume were involved in the race pass my house in both directions

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We need fantastic events in Highland Perthshire. I think the Comment’s / local community’s handling of the consultation process and subsequent snubbing of the event was completely unnecessary. As a local business we lost out but as a family it was great to support. Aberfeldy is dying on its feet – let’s stop being so insular and negative and see the bigger picture.

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As a churchgoer I was certainly annoyed by the arrogant attitude displayed. After all the church has been here for hundreds of years! But it was scarcely considered.

If they cannot keep Perthshire roads open, they should not do this event again.

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There was no need for the roads to be closed causing great disruption to both residents and businesses. The council only considered the money they were gaining and as usual not the people who pay taxes. I am disabled and my family were denied access to my home on the only day they can come.

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The overwhelming negative articles /editorials in Comment are in my opinion unbalanced and fail to reflect many positive comments I have heard from local people/businesses. It almost put me off buying Comment, although I agree with certain points you raise.

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Thought P&K Council got this one very wrong. Riding rough shod over local communities is absolutely not the way to make friends and influence people in the way they’d have wished. We do pay our council taxes to them.

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Tourism is the main revenue raiser in Perthshire. This event helps people from elsewhere to focus in Perthshire and to bring business to it. Any disadvantages eg closing of certain roads (especially on a Sunday) for a few hours pale into insignificance. Landowners and farmers receive tens of thousands of pounds each annually from the public purse and no one complains, perhaps we should.

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No more road closures again.

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Not one piece of communication about the event was delivered to our household in Tummel Bridge. Perth & Kinross council have been very presumptive in their organisation of this event.

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Aberfeldy was not busy at all with all the so called tourists that this event was supposed to bring. The council managed to give this event £20,000 but cannot find any money to maintain & keep the public toilets open which would be far more beneficial to the town & encourage tourists to stop & visit.

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Absolutely no gain for the individual or community was derived from this - a waste of time and inconvenience to locals and visitors to our area.

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I think that it is totally shocking that the council donated £20,000 to fund this project which was only on for one day, when the money could have been put to far better use such as putting the money towards building a public swimming pool which Pitlochry would greatly benefit from for more than one day.

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Our business was fortunate in that we did not have many clients in Perthshire that weekend, but these one day events can cause us considerable inconvenience and that even means that we cannot organise week-long itineraries for clients ….a considerable loss of business.

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The Rob Roy challenge took place the day before with 1,700 cyclists on the south road of Loch Tay - no road closure, no disruption to local residents or people. Etape Caledonia needs to be re-routed.  How many cyclists were there?

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Lack of communication from council not sent to property owner but addressed to my stepson and then forwarded to him at university. The road was closed 1 hour earlier than notified. Our movements were restricted.

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The consultation before the event was totally inadequate – it was too late for the event to be stopped or significantly altered.  The public meeting was an absolute disgrace.  Criticism and comment was rejected by Mr Ken McDonald who was unprepared to accept the views of the majority.  He was arrogant and rude. £20,000 given to Etape Caledonia was out of public money without the consent/approval of the public.  Why should I have to contribute to this donation?  It must not be repeated again.

In anticipation of the disruption my wife and I went away for the weekend.

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The race was not the real problem – it was the non-discussion communication by the organisers and P&K Council prior to the event.  Even to the point of being invited by post to a meeting to discuss the race, two weeks after the event took place.

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No future road closures or disruptive major events without a full plebiscite well in advance in Highland Perthshire

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I think it is a great advert for the district and should be held again.

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In addition to 9(b) the proviso would be at a different time of year, starting much earlier on the day and commencing at different town locations.  Consultation must be more positive by P&K and Etape Caledonia.

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Arbitrary imposition of road closure another time will bring organised civil disobedience.

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Badly organised, shouldn’t be underpinned by tax payers’ money, Etap is commercial enterprise.  Let them sink or swim!

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Wrong date.  No need for road closure as very spread out field of riders.  Events entry fee was to expensive resulting in only 1000 entries and not 2500 as originally expected.

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I have to own to being very disappointed that it did not pour with rain all day and did not appreciate my usual Sunday routine being disrupted.  So many businesses were adversely affected by the road closures – Perth & Kinross Council showed total disregard for rural life.

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Although both consultation and communication pre-event were appalling, my objection is not so much to the event itself but to the fact that the council are yet again wasting money which should rightly be spent on improving local services!

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Should never have happened.  Outrageous!

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Very disappointed by the event which promised so much to the area, yet failed to deliver.

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Apart From the Weem road being very quiet no advantages to anyone.

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Spectators parked in customer parking spaces – blocking road.

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I did write directly to Etape Caledonia with no response received whatsoever.  Numerous letters went back and forth between myself and Ken MacDonald at Perth & Kinross Council with none of my questions answered and no compensation offered.

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• We should embrace events that promote sport in our area

• 2) It highlights the affluence of the area that it can take or leave organised activities that raise the profile of the area

• 3) A very inwardly focused evaluation she – a “me, me, me” attitude!

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The event might be acceptable if run in April or October outside the main tourist season.  Otherwise it should not be allowed.  P&K should NOT be subsidising it.  Our retail and café business was not on a closed route BUT our takings were very poor.  Our expectation was we would benefit.