City's plan to host Tour de Yorkshire defied by cabinet members

Wakefield Council's Cabinet members defied the recommendations of council officers by opting to bid to host the Tour de Yorkshire.

The cabinet met today to discuss its stance on hosting part of next year’s three-day race after concerns were raised about the costs.

Members ignored the recommendation of officers, who prepared a report to the meeting advising councillors to reject the invitation to host a stage start or finish.

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Coun Les Shaw, cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport, said hosting a start or finish would be “a good investment” and “fantastic opportunity” for the district.

However, it is estimated hosting the start of a stage would cost £250,000 and bring in an extra £115,000 of spending by visitors while staging a finish would cost £300,000 and generate £25,000 of visitor spending.

It would also involve improvements to roads in the city in preparation for the race, which could cost around £340,000.

Coun Shaw said: “To host a start or finish of the Tour de Yorkshire is a fantastic opportunity for the whole district and it was clear that my cabinet colleagues share this belief.

“Of course we recognise that there are costs involved.

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“However, I am confident that it is a good investment for the district.”

The council will now formally express an interest to tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire to either host the start of end of the race after receiving an invitation.