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Tempers After Cycle Race Sabotage

Politicians Attack ACRE and Demand Campaign Ends

Local P&K councillor Ken Lyall and Westminster MP Peter Wishart have lashed out at ACRE - the anti closed road pressure group - implying that the sabotaging of this year’s race might never have happened if ACRE had remained silent and never campaigned against Perth and Kinross’s controversial decision to give Etape Caledonia unswerving support.

The SNP politicians have effectively called on ACRE to disband in the interests of promoting more tourism into the area, to quell cyclists’ anger, and because it is a hopeless cause.

Ken Lyall called the act of spreading carpet tacks along the race route, “dangerous, despicable and cowardly behaviour (which) must surely backfire on the culprit and indeed the ACRE group.”

Pete Wishart said: “I believe that the ongoing campaign to have this race stopped has not served the people of Highland Perthshire well and hope that this did not provide a pre-text for this individuals appalling act.”

ACRE Anger

Their stance amazed the ACRE support group, some of whom had been deluged with vitriolic hate mail, much of it anonymous. ACRE spokesman Peter Hounam told Comment that no member of its organising group had even been interviewed by police, and he fired off an angry response to Ken Lyall:

“You imply that ACRE is somehow responsible for what happened even though our group has always stood out against illegal action. You know we are not to blame - even in a small way - and you should apologise publicly for rounding on our organisation and linking us to the idiot who sabotaged the race.

 “The group has endeavoured to use democratic methods to make our case and overturn what your authority has bulldozed through, but our local representatives, yourself included, have let us down. If even one of our councillors had properly represented the hundreds of people who supported ACRE’s stand, there would not be this festering anger in Highland Perthshire that P&K is aloof from local interests.”

He continued: “Now you have the cheek to insist we should give up our campaign and our complaint because the race has become enormous and is therefore a fait accompli. “You should appreciate that if the event was run properly as a trial with participants starting over several hours, as it was meant to be, there would be no problem having the race on open roads. ACRE would help marshal such a trial, but fully in aid of local interests not an interloper like Etape Caledonia.”

C’llr Lyall replied that he never said ACRE was responsible. He added “I do think that the culprits actions will ‘backfire’ on the ACRE campaign regardless of whether the group was involved or not. You note the comment ‘the culprit and indeed the ACRE group’. This implies that I did not think it was the group that was involved. I think the actions will degrade your campaign, just like the allowance debacle in Westminster, all tarred with the same brush!”

Not Standing Again?

The councillor continued: “As for 500 people who signed your petition, this was a while ago and I would be interested to know how many people now have a different view, maybe you should hold make a new petition to gauge the present feeling, not the feelings of years ago.”

Angered by Peter Hounam’s attack, he revealed that “probably” he would not be standing again at the next council elections.

Dissent Dismissed

Pete Wishart also dismissed the importance of local dissent against the closure of roads. He said in a statement: “Highland Perthshire’s reputation as a first class tourist destination has to be maintained and we cannot let this juvenile act get in the way of that. Etape Caledonia brings a massive economic boost to the area and we want these visitors to come back.

“I believe that the ongoing campaign to have this race stopped has not served the people of Highland Perthshire well and hope that this did not provide a pretext for this individual’s appalling act.”

The MP added: “The attempted sabotage of the Etape Caledonia cycle race was a massive embarrassment to Highland Perthshire and we must ensure that nothing is done to harm the image of Highland Perthshire as a welcoming place to visit.

“I have spoken to all sides of the argument and everyone is agreed that this must not be allowed to happen again. Where the opposition to the closed road event is deeply felt, I believe now is the time to work with the organisers to resolve issues and ensure that a benefit comes to all parts of the route. That is why I will be proposing that we look at supporting associated events in the Kinloch Rannoch and Kenmore area and ensure that those areas also see some benefit from the race...Now is the time for everyone to get behind this fantastic event and ensure that all areas secure a benefit.”

It emerged as Comment went to press that Pete Wishart had yet to seek a meeting with any members of the ACRE organising group, despite his claim to have ‘spoken to all sides of the argument.’

More Tack Attacks

Discussion of the disruption of the Etape Caledonia race is now sub judice but carpet tacks were used to stop a cycle race in March this year at the Aviva Ironman Singapore triathlon. 30 to 40 participants had their bike tyres punctured and race director Graeme Hannan said it was a deliberate sabotage attempt. Graeme Hannan had for many years worked in Australia for IMG, the multi-national company behind Etape Caledonia.

This year, the Etape fielded more than 3,500 participants and P&K Economic Development committee convenor John Kellas claimed it could bring more than £1 million worth of financial benefits into the area, mirroring the comments of Peter Wishart and Ken Lyall.

But despite the official claims, there are still widespread doubts about how such figures are arrived at. Once again areas where roads were closed had a slump in business and events organised in Kenmore and Aberfeldy bolstered by council grants had no direct link with the race. 

Even some shops in Pitlochry that are normally open on Sunday decided to close, after experiencing a shortage of customers in previous years.

Fundraising Fallout

The biggest beneficiary is unquestionably the Etape Caledonia company, based in London, which this year collected in more than £175,000 in fees, as well as the final tranche of a £30,000 P&K grant. Another big money winner is Macmillan Cancer Care which prominently lent its name to the event, and for which many cyclists were collecting money.

This is also now wrought with controversy, with the local Macmillan committee expressing concerns at not being consulted about the pros and cons of being linked to such a controversial activity, and at the possibility of fallout for local fundraisers.

Debate in Highland Perthshire about Perth and Kinross’s apparent aloof attitude to local dissent, is increasingly mirrored in other areas. For some time, there has been anger in Kinross about high-handed planning decisions. Local councillor Mike Barnacle quit as vice-convenor of the development control committee over excessive development in the area including a proposed 25% increase in housing provision that he said was “neither desirable nor sustainable”.

This year there has been fury in Scone over proposals for massive new housing estates, with the Scone Community Council resigning en masse in protest at P&K ignoring local opinion.

Closer to home, many in Pitlochry have been mobilized to campaign over huge development plans for the Curling Rink site and for a Travel Lodge in the town with meetings taking place as Comment went to press

Man Charged

Alex Grosset, a 62-year-old solicitor who chairs Rannoch and Tummel Community Council, appeared in court in May in connection with the alleged sabotage of the race. He was accused of scattering carpet tacks along the route of the race and ‘showing complete disregard for the safety of participants, as well as onlookers.’

He was arrested on the Monday after the race at his home near Bridge of Gaur and was held in custody before appearing in court two days later. He appeared in private on a petition alleging that his actions damaged a number of bicycles and emergency vehicles.

Alex Grosset made no plea or declaration during the hearing and the case was continued for further examination by Sheriff Michael Fletcher who granted him bail. He is alleged to have culpably and recklessly deposited a quantity of tacks onto the surface of the unclassified road between Kinloch Rannoch and Tomphubil, and the B846 between Tomphubil and Aberfeldy.