In a series of promotions, residents, spectators and businesses are being reminded to plan ahead for the likely disruption on 7 July.
These include:
- A special leaflet will be delivered to over 25,000 residents and businesses on the route and to those villages affected in South Cambridgeshire. It contains travel advice, highlights of what to expect on the day and links to more information. This is available here: http://tinyurl.com/oe5t9qn
- The route itself is being dressed with lamppost banners now installed in Cambridge and posters will soon be going up in South Cambridgeshire villages.
- A touring information point at shopping centres, park and ride sites and Cambridge railway station•The Variable Messaging Boards on roads through the county are being used to remind commuters and businesses to plan ahead for the visit of Le Tour.
- A new interactive bus map is available to see at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/letourstage3 to see what the impact on the bus services going into and out of Cambridge will be.
- Schools and Academies in Cambridge and on the outskirts of the city have also been considering the implications of the race and they have been contacting parents/carers to confirm whether they intend to remain open or closed on the day.
The following establishments have confirmed to the County Council they will be either be closed or holding a teacher training day on 7 July:
Arbury Primary School, Bellbird Primary School, Bewick Bridge Primary, Brunswick Nursery School, The Centre School – Cottenham, Chesterton Community College, Cherry Hinton Primary, Chesterton Primary School, Coleridge Community College, Duxford Primary School, Fawcett Primary School, Great and Little Shelford Primary School, Grove Primary School, Icknield Primary School, Histon Early years Centre, Impington Village College, Kings Hedges Nursery School, Kings Hedges Primary School, Mayfield Primary School, Milton Primary School, Milton Road Primary School, Netherhall School, Newnham Croft Primary School, Park Street Primary School, Parkside Community College, Ridgefield Primary School, Sawston Village College, Shirley Primary and Nursery School, Spinney Primary School, St Alban's Primary School, St Bede's Inter-Church School, St Laurence's Primary School, St Matthew's Primary School, St Paul's Primary School, St Philip's Primary School, Stapleford Primary School and Trumpington Meadows.
Graham Hughes, Executive Director: Economy, Transport & Environment at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “With the biggest annual sporting event in the world coming to Cambridge on a Monday, we want to do everything we can to help people plan for the day. It is going to be a very busy day throughout the county but by preparing in advance you can make sure you either have the best vantage point, are able to organise deliveries or plot your route to work. We have also heard from a number of schools and academies who have been looking at the implications of the transport disruption and have been deciding whether they will open or close. These decisions are never easy but in taking them the Headteachers have considered what they feel will be the impact of the race on their schools.”
Liz Bisset, Director of Customer and Community Services at Cambridge City Council, said “Monday 7 July is going to be a day like no other for Cambridge as we welcome the third stage of the Tour de France. To make sure as many people as possible are aware of the big day, we have been hard at work with our partners to ensure residents, business and spectators know what is happening on the day. This is why the city is being dressed to celebrate the arrival of Le Tour and we are delivering thousands of leaflets to those set to be affected by the arrival of the race.”
Mike Hill, Director of Health and Environmental Services, said: “Hosting such a huge sporting event means there are challenges to overcome, but by working with our partners we hope residents will be able to enjoy this momentous day. We are featuring the event in our next residents’ magazine and leaflets, posters and information will soon be appearing in communities along the route to help you plan ahead.”
The Grand Départ will race from Leeds to Harrogate on July 5, York to Sheffield on July 6, and a third stage will travel from Cambridge to London on July 7. Exact details of the route can be found at online at www.letour.yorkshire.com.
In the build up to the arrival of the Tour, detailed information will be given to residents, businesses and visitors regarding the impact of the race on Cambridge and the county. This will be made available online at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/letourstage3 and www.cambridge.gov.uk/le-tour-cambridge as well as through leaflets, roadshows and events.
Information will also be made available via Facebook: www.facebook.com/LeTourCambridge or Twitter: www.twitter.com/LeTourCambridge.
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Cambridgeshire County Council: Please contact Tony Taylorson in the Communications Team on 01223 699285 or 07824 367401.
Cambridge City Council: Please contact Neil Jones on 01223 457564
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