Tour de France road closures across Yorkshire: Full details

Tour de France fans are at risk of missing the race’s Yorkshire debut as road closures could leave popular sections of the course in the remotest parts of the region all but inaccessible during the event, it is feared.
Cyclists pass Chelker reservoir between Addingham and Skipton which is used as part of this year's stage from Leeds to Harrogate.  Picture by Bruce RollinsonCyclists pass Chelker reservoir between Addingham and Skipton which is used as part of this year's stage from Leeds to Harrogate.  Picture by Bruce Rollinson
Cyclists pass Chelker reservoir between Addingham and Skipton which is used as part of this year's stage from Leeds to Harrogate. Picture by Bruce Rollinson

The announcement that the closure of roads in North Yorkshire will see major routes all over the region closed down for at least eight hours at a time when the iconic cycle race passes through the county on July 5 and 6 was made by North Yorkshire County Council yesterday.

The authority has urged those in the area to “avoid travelling unless absolutely necessary” during the Tour weekend, which could mean fans planning to visit some of the more picturesque and remote areas of the stages missing out.

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Precise timings for closures are yet to be given, as the council says they will be dictated by “variable factors” such as race timings and spectator arrival times.

Cyclists pass Chelker reservoir between Addingham and Skipton which is used as part of this year's stage from Leeds to Harrogate.  Picture by Bruce RollinsonCyclists pass Chelker reservoir between Addingham and Skipton which is used as part of this year's stage from Leeds to Harrogate.  Picture by Bruce Rollinson
Cyclists pass Chelker reservoir between Addingham and Skipton which is used as part of this year's stage from Leeds to Harrogate. Picture by Bruce Rollinson

The announcement by the council, which will host over half of both Tour stages on its roads, is the first of a number of similar regional road closure statements to be issued over the coming weeks.

Tour planners TdFHUB2014Ltd are warning spectators that travel between locations on each stage will be limited, so spectators should plan ahead.

The leader of Richmondshire District Council, Coun John Blackie, lets out holiday cottages in the Yorkshire Dales and has been inundated with interest – agreeing his first booking two hours after the Tour was announced last year.

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He feels other operators may not have been aware of the impact of closures and the need to make sure visitors turn up early.

“Whether other people were aware of that, I suspect they weren’t and I suspect the publication of the extent of the road closures will come as a surprise to them and there will be a deal of consternation among operators as if you don’t come last thing on Friday night you won’t be able to come to Tour stages,” he said.

“Maybe we should have been rather better prepared earlier on because people book towards the end of the year for the following year, so you can say to see this very special once in a lifetime event you will have to book in a day early. There will be some issues but I don’t think they are issues that can’t be overcome.”

The minimum eight-hour closures have been organised to allow preparation of the race route, the handover to Tour de France organisers, access for the ‘publicity caravan’ comprising of more than 150 sponsors’ vehicles as well as for the race itself, removal of race infrastructure and the safe movement of spectators.

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The leader of North Yorkshire County Council, Coun John Weighell, said: “This is a huge logistical challenge. It will not be confined to the two days of the weekend. We anticipate that the build-up – and some disruption on the roads – will occur throughout the preceding week.”

He said the travel disruption will be “a small price to pay for such a massive return”, as it is estimated that the Tour will bring £100m into the Yorkshire economy.

The first stage on Saturday July 5 begins in Leeds and passes through Otley, Ilkley, Skipton, Hawes, Reeth, Masham and Ripon before the Harrogate finish.

Stage two on Sunday July 6 starts in York before passing Knaresborough, Harrogate, Silsden, Keighley, Haworth, Hebden Bridge, Huddersfield and Holmfirth with the finish in Sheffield.

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The road closures have been organised through discussions between emergency services, the NHS, highways agencies, local authorities, Tour organisers Amaury Sport Organisation and the UK Government firm overseeing Tour planning, TdFHUB2014Ltd.

A TdFHUB2014Ltd spokesman said: “The Tour de France is the biggest annual sporting event in the world, so spectators should plan well ahead and think about where they would like to watch and get there early. Movement may be limited on the day, so many spectators will be choosing a particular spot.

“There will be dedicated spectator hubs along the route, which are sure to prove popular locations to watch the race. More information will be released on letouryorkshire.com in the weeks to come to help people plan.”

Visit www.letouryorkshire.com or www.northyorks.gov.uk.

Full list of road closures in North Yorkshire

Stage One road closures – Saturday, July 5, 2014.

The roads listed will be closed for at least eight hours on the day of stage one of the Tour de France 2014.

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Given the expected number of visitors to North Yorkshire for the event, it is likely that roads will be closed for most of the Saturday.

Wherever possible, access will be maintained on key routes that cross the closed roads for as long as possible before the race itself takes place.

Craven district : A65 from the county boundary to the A6069 Otley Road junction; A6069 from the A65 to Skipton High Street; A6131 Skipton High Street; B6265 from Skipton High Street to Threshfield; B6160 from Threshfield to Kidstones.

Richmondshire District: B6160 from Kidstones to A684 junction near West Burton; A684 from B6160 to Hawes; C32 from Hawes to Thwaite (Buttertubs); B6270 from Thwaite to Grinton; C106 from Grinton to Leyburn; A6108 from Moor Lane, Leyburn to Wensley Road, Leyburn (West of Leyburn Market Place); A684 from the roundabout next to the Bolton Arms to A6108 Middleham Road (Leyburn); A6108 from Leyburn to Jervaulx.

Hambleton District: A6108 Binsoe to West Tanfield.

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Harrogate Borough: A6108 Jervaulx to Binsoe; A6108 West Tanfield to Ripon Bypass; A61 Ripon Bypass to A59/A61 New Park roundabout; A61 Ripon Road Harrogate; A61 Parliament Street.

Harrogate: Most of Harrogate Town centre

Stage Two road closures - Sunday, July 6, 2014.

For stage two of the Tour de France 2014 the roads listed below will be closed for a minimum of eight hours.

Given the expected number of visitors to North Yorkshire, it is likely that the roads will be closed for most of the Sunday.

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Wherever possible, access will be maintained on key routes that cross the closed roads for as long as possible before the race itself takes place.

Harrogate Borough: A59 Moor Monkton to A658 / A59 roundabout (Harrogate Bypass); A59 A658 roundabout to A59/ A661 roundabout (Empress Roundabout); A59 Empress Roundabout to B6161 roundabout; A59 B6161 roundabout to Blubberhouses Moor.

Craven District: A59 Blubberhouses Moor to Bolton Abbey roundabout; B6160 Bolton Abbey to county boundary.