Backing for tourism agency in wake of chief’s resignation
In 2014, the York-Sheffield stage of the Tour de France came through Huddersfield town centre, Honley, Thongsbridge, Holmfirth, and snaked up Holme Moss.
In 2015, the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire revisited some of the previous year’s route, as well as Marsden and Slaithwaite.
Huddersfield missed out on the 2016 race, but the district was back for the 2017 event, with Kirklees forming part of stage three. It bypassed Huddersfield in 2018.
The 2015 event attracted 2m spectators and generated £60m for the county’s economy.
Among those who championed the race was keen cyclist Clr Martyn Bolt, a senior figure on Kirklees Council’s Conservative group, who encouraged tourists to come to the borough and cyclists to enjoy the route themselves.
Commenting on Kirklees’ payments to Welcome to Yorkshire, he said: “These figures appear to be more of a contribution for services. It’s not a consistent figure that Kirklees is paying in.
“I don’t think they have put bids in for the major cycling events.”
But he drew comparisons between what Kirklees received from the high-profile cycling race and its neighbours.
“Welcome to Yorkshire is predominantly a membership organisation so they are going to work with their members.
“Sheffield is talking about a subscription - a levy. And they are withholding that levy.
“If Kirklees are not subscribing, then they will not benefit from the cycling bonanza that Welcome to Yorkshire have delivered.
“It’s a return on investment : if you don’t put in, you don’t get anything out.”