Photo courtesy of Kings Lynn Council staff
Thursday, September 16 is the start of Stage 6 of the Tour of Britain cycling race (Stage 6: King’s Lynn – Great Yarmouth, 189km). The Norfolk stage of the Tour of Britain starts in the Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn.
Preparations are well underway to ensure that this is a spectacular sporting occasion and that these top athletes are given a warm West Norfolk welcome. To kick off the publicity for the event in King’s Lynn, keen cyclist and Borough Council Cabinet Member for Sports, Arts and Open Spaces Cllr Elizabeth Nockolds will accompany Norfolk County Council Cabinet Member for Culture Cllr Derrick Murphy, on the first stretch of his journey along the 117-mile route.
Cllr Murphy and Cllr Nockolds with others heading off for the bike ride along the route of the Norfolk stage of the Tour of Britain
Cllr Nockolds, who will set off with Cllr Murphy at 8.30am from the Tuesday Market Place, on Friday, 30 July, will join him as far as Sandringham. Cllr Murphy, who has committed to travelling the entire route of the Norfolk Stage of the Tour of Britain to promote the event’s visit to the county, will be raising money for the local St Edmund’s Community Foundation School in King’s Lynn.
Cllr Nockolds explained: “Excitement is already building for this prestigious event. We are really looking forward to welcoming these top-class athletes to West Norfolk, and are privileged that they have chosen King’s Lynn as the start for the Norfolk stage of the Tour of Britain.”
“I’m really hoping that people will come along on 16 September to line the route and cheer on the competitors. I’m also hoping that this event will inspire people to take up cycling as a healthy activity. I’ve always enjoyed cycling because it’s something you can do on your own or with your friends and family. West Norfolk has a really good network of cycle paths which makes it a safe an accessible activity.”
The Tour of Britain Norfolk Stage sets off from the Tuesday Market Place in King’s Lynn on 16 September, and will become the longest single stage in the history of the Tour of Britain. One hundred riders from 18 different countries are expected to compete in the Tour of Britain, which will be televised in over 100 countries across the world.
Roger Partridge, Sports Development Manager at the Borough Council, explained: “We are putting together a packed programme of events in the Tuesday Market Place to make a real occasion of this event. We’ve got a concert planned for the night before, organised by the Festival Too committee, so people can come down and stay in town if they wish, so that they are ready to give the cyclists a good send off. We are also hoping to have a display of veteran bikes and local schools have been involved coming up with ideas about how to customise their bikes.”
After King’s Lynn the Tour will head off past the Sandringham Visitor Centre and on to Hunstanton, where the Town Council are organising a fun-packed day of celebrations for visitors and residents including watersports and special activities on The Green.
Further details about Tour of Britain activities in West Norfolk will be published once they are finalised. For information about the Tour of Britain go to www.tourofbritain.norfolk.gov.uk.
Norfolk County Council have issued two documents about highway closure/restrictions with regard to the forthcoming Tour of Britain Cycle Race , a copy of which can be downloaded from this site:
1. The Order
This allows the Traffic Authority (Norfolk County Council) to temporarily
restrict or prohibit the use of a road and/or footpath.
2. The Notice
This is the public Notice that must be advertised before making an Order.
The proposed order comes into effect on the date shown. The date on the
notice when it will appear in the Eastern Daily Press. If we have to change
any dates, we will let you know. If you have any questions, please contact
the Area Highways Office on the number given on the notices.
If you have any questions about the order and notices, please contact Marcia
Lee on (01603) 222957.