Concerns over bike event
Residents to air woes
Cyclists pack out Pitlochry for the Etape Perth and Kinross Council is set to debate the renewal of a market licence for next year’s Etape Caledonia after receiving a formal objection from Pitlochry residents.
The local authority’s licensing committee will judge the renewal request on Thursday, May 7, at 2 High Street, as residents of the Highland Perthshire town have rallied against the decision to take over the Atholl Road council run car park for the cycling event.
Eric Grierson, of the nearby Elm Court, has written to PKC on behalf of several of the street’s residents who are tired of having it in the car park.
He wrote: “We all object to the event taking place in the council car park [on] Atholl Road, adjacent to Elm Court on the grounds of last year’s problems with noise and parking in private residents parking in Elm Court.
“Our suggestion would be to move the event to Recreation Park, where all the other events take place throughout the year in Pitlochry. Etape has outgrown the council car park.”
Mr Grierson had written to environmental services director Barbara Renton last year following the disruption at last year’s event.
“Noise from the speakers and giant screen and live bands [last] year was way above an acceptable level, which was recorded by Police Scotland.”
The licence has been requested by IMG Ltd, the London-based agency behind the now 85-mile Etape and the six month decision date is September 2018.
This year’s race will take place on Sunday, May 20 and, having extended the route by four miles, the local authority has been preparing to host even more than the 5000 who competed in 2017 - set to almost treble the town’s population for the day.
Highland ward councillor Xander McDade, who had correspondence with Mr Grierson, said: “I had a meeting with residents last summer to discuss their concerns.
“Over the weekend (last year), I had a number of complaints sent to me, including ones reported to Police Scotland.
“There were issues over noise levels and poor marshalling. Elm Court, beside the car park has sheltered housing and carers were struggling to get in.
“I made the suggestion to move the event to Recreation Park at a subcommittee meeting in October. They decided not to this year, but maybe next year.
“It would solve a lot of the year-on-year problems. I think last year was the crunch point.
“The move would free up the biggest car park in the town. Retailers often have a bad weekend with reduced parking.
“It would be sensible, and while the community have essentially been ignored for a long, long time, the new organisers have taken steps to improve the relationship.
Etape has outgrown the car park