Here are the main points following the National Road Cycling Championship time trials meeting for residents [9 June 2022 at the Barbour Hall, Glencaple with Simon Lillistone (British Cycling) and Ian Barr (Dumfries and Galloway Council)]. The meeting was very well attended with valid concerns raised and points well made.

 

There was ‘100% acknowledgement of the significant impact on communities’ and an apology ‘for the lack of community engagement and consultation at an earlier date.’ There is ‘a commitment to take points raised on board’ – they have been heard and understood.

 

A Q/A session followed a presentation promoting the benefits of this unique and prestigious event involving 134 of the best riders in the world with an international audience, including a £400,000 economic benefit to the region. The information gathered today will help inform final plans.

 

Timetable for road closing/opening for essential, local access – text reads (further info below):

Road closures in place from 08:30
Essential Access available until 09:30
.
Essential Access available 11:45 – 13:30 *all times approximate
Bankend Road from 11:15
.
Essential Access available 16:10 – 17:00 *all times approximate
Bankend Road from 15:40
.
Roads reopen from 18:30 *all times approximate
Bankend Road from 17:50

Main points/ in brief:

  • Formal information to come next Friday [17th June 2022]
  • See timetable above of timings for ESSENTIAL ACCESS only
  • Essential Access includes school runs, Drs, Nurses, carers, shift workers and other *local* workers coming in and going out
  • The times shown in yellow are for access from the Bankend Road as that is the route the cyclists will be travelling and will follow the last cyclist round. These times may fluctuate slightly – perhaps a 5 to 10 minute difference
  • School information will be given out early next week
  • The council will provide free school activities until around 4pm
  • A solution to St Josephs S1 meeting to be arranged
  • Information is being cascaded to all social care agencies with an initial suggestion to ‘call the care agency to see if they can accommodate a minor change in routine’. This suggestion was rebuked.
  • A possible solution of a minibus at the Crichton to bring carers in was mooted
  • An emergency contact number will be made available for e.g. GPs requiring access for urgent home visits
  • GP practices will be contacted to alert them
  • An emergency contact number will be made available for e.g. vets to the 20 or so farms affected
  • Residents requiring necessary medical treatment will be facilitated as best they can
  • Liaisons with ‘blue-light’ services are underway – if emergency access is required
  • The council will provide a phone number for essential use
  • There is no compensation package for businesses
  • Put your (grey/black) bins out very early for pick up Thursday morning
  • Road signage will be erected in advance
  • Cyclists will be leaving at 1 minute intervals and will each follow a motorcycle marshall
  • 100% call for dogs to be kept on a lead
  • ‘Be very aware’ if spectating – keep to the side of pavements (where there are pavements) and keep roads clear
  • There will be trained stewards at main points along the route
  • If the negative outweighs the positive, future world events will be reconsidered
  • The event will bring in hundreds to thousands of visitors over the weekend and it will be widely televised and well publicised
  • Check out the British Cycling website to apply for a volunteering position
  • Simon Lillistone has been given as contact for the meantime:
    Simon.Lillistone@britishcycling.org.uk 
We will keep you posted with further information as it comes in, and if we are informed of any revisions.