Fears over midsummer date for next year’s Velo

A MIDSUMMER date for the next Velo bike ride through Solihull could cause major disruption for weddings, community events and Father’s Day celebrations, it is feared.

Concerns have been raised that holding the event on Sunday, June 21, could scupper fetes and local fundraisers – popular at that time of year – and clash with nuptials, arranged well in advance.

And an added worry is that the 2020 ride falls on Father’s Day – an important date for the likes of pubs and restaurants.

A senior councillor said that lessons would be learned from this year’s event, with a specific warning that the nine-hour closure of some roads was “just too long” and would need to be reduced.

However, more than 1,200 people have signed a petition, set to be submitted in the New Year, calling for civic leaders to pull the plug and avoid a repeat of the “disorganised chaos” back in May.

Meriden resident Lewis Edwards, 48, who launched the online appeal, said: “It’s midsummer, a lot of things are going to be cancelled because of this.

“I don’t know why it’s been given such a platform, I think people’s heads have been turned. Really it’s a big corporate thing and stopping people’s right to do what they want to do.”

While Solihull Council said it had received 32 complaints this year, Mr Edwards argued this didn’t take into account many who would have contacted the organisers directly to voice their concerns.

A number of changes are set to be made to the route, which would now enter the borough at around the 50-mile mark, near Meriden.

A section along Cooks Lane and Birmingham Road has been removed, to avoid the disruption of closing the Collector Road. Other alterations will aim to tackle problems reported in the Four Ashes Road area of Dorridge, along Ilshaw Heath Road and in parts of Shirley.

David Keaney, the council’s traffic manager, said that while the previous event had been successful, there had been “some disruption and pain for certain residents in terms of access on the day”.

Coun Laura McCarthy (Lib

Dem, Elmdon) said: “It’s wedding season on June 21 – have we engaged with the local churches? Presumably they’ll have had bookings potentially two years in advance. That’s going to put a severe dampener on the day if none of the guests can get there and the bride and groom can’t get in or out.”

Velo organisers CSM Active have been contacted. There was no reply at the time of going to press.