Leading figures in Ashfield have spoken of their "disappointment" after it was announced that the district will miss out on a chance to see cyclists race in the Tour of Britain, with suggestions it was down to the amount of potholes in the area. This comes after Nottinghamshire was announced as one of the destinations for the fifth stage of the race.
But sadly for residents in Ashfield the tour will not be touching the district despite what councillors described as "high excitement" for the event when it passed through back in 2018, when the event brought tens thousands of people onto the streets. One councillor speculated that it may be due to the state of the roads in Hucknall that the race will not pass through.
One Hucknall councillor has suggested that the pot holes that plague the town may be to blame for the decision not to include Ashfield in the Tour of Britain. Councillor Lee Waters spoke about the cost that not having the race in the town could have on the local economy, calling it "a real shame."
Read more: Tour of Britain route map as world-famous race returns to Nottinghamshire
He said: "Let’s face it - asking elite cyclists to race on Hucknall’s broken roads is a little bit like asking a football team to play a match on broken glass. The event, to be held in Nottinghamshire on Thursday, September 18 will be close but not in Hucknall. That is a real shame.
“Since David Shaw, John Wilmott and I were elected as County Councillors in May last year – we have reported hundreds of highway’s defects. Councillor Wilmott reported 37 in just one afternoon last week. There’s no doubt that the state of highways is one of the reasons this prestigious cycling race isn’t coming to Hucknall.
"This is has cost Hucknall’s economy hundreds of thousands. We want to be in a position to welcome the Tour of Britain to Hucknall in the near future.”
Councillor Matthew Relf, independent ward for Sutton Junction & Harlow Wood, expressed his disappointment but encouraged residents to head to Mansfield on Thursday, September 8, to watch the race. He said: "Whilst we are obviously disappointed not to be included, on the 8th September, we are asking the residents of Ashfield to travel to Mansfield and Market Warsop. Ashfield and Mansfield District Councils work regularly to promote North Nottinghamshire.
“There’s no moat around Ashfield. When Mansfield does well – so does Ashfield and the rest of North Nottinghamshire. We are pleased to support Mansfield and hope in the future we can welcome the race back to the streets of Ashfield, Hucknall and Kirkby. "Hopefully it’s return will only be a cycle ride away. We look forward to residents of both Ashfield and Mansfield supporting each other’s business cultural event’s calendar.”
Estimates suggested that in 2018, the Nottinghamshire economy was boosted by £3.9 million after part-hosting the Tour of Britain.
