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Jun 2021
Review opens into Harrogate's UCI Road World Championships
Harrogate Borough Council has begun a review of the UCI Road World Championships, almost two years after the event was held.
Posted on the council’s website, the survey is open to residents and businesses and will run until June 16.
The authority says the purpose of the review is to build on “its successes and identifying any areas for improvement to inform the organisation of future events”.
The review will be conducted by the council’s overview and scrutiny committee, which is made up of elected councillors and aims to scrutinise council business.
The Stray Ferret asked the council why it was holding the survey and what the process was for the review.
A spokesperson for the council said:
You can give your thoughts on the 2019 UCI World Cycling Championships by filling out the survey here.
Read more:
- Council Stray repairs contract given under ‘urgent circumstances’
- West Park Stray — 12 months of mud, repair and debate
A controversial event
Hundreds of cyclists from 67 countries took part in the event over nine days in September 2019, with each day's race finishing in Harrogate town centre.
It received a hostile reception from many local traders, who said they did not feel the benefits of the event coming to town, particularly as it led to many road closures that deterred people from coming into Harrogate.
But a council-commissioned report by Ernst and Young claimed the championships brought in an estimated £17.8 million boost to the district economy.
The event, which was cursed by rain, generated further controversy when it was revealed £130,000 of damage was caused to West Park Stray.
Seven months after the competition, the council brought in Lancashire firm Glendale Services to restore the Stray.
The authority gave the contract for the restoration works “under urgent circumstances”, a decision criticised by local companies at the time.
Yorkshire 2019, the organisers of the UCI, agreed to pay £35,500 to help restore the Stray.
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