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Tour comes to town
SOME of the world's top cyclists will race through Bridgwater when the prestigious Tour of Britain comes to Somerset, it has been announced.
The South-West leg of the tour on September 9 will begin in Chard and end in Burnham, but Bridgwater will also see a slice of the action.
Riders will arrive in Bridgwater from Bishops Lydeard before heading up the A38 towards Burnham.
The race will not go through Bridgwater town centre.
Jill Shortland, leader of Somerset County Council, said: "Last year, Somerset benefited to the tune of £500,000 in additional visitor spend within the county on race day alone and we hope that local businesses will welcome the event and help us in making sure it is a success again.
"This year's route takes in even more of the region and promises to be a spectacular event."
The tour came to Somerset for the first time last year and caused some friction with traders in Taunton - where the leg finished - because they claimed the road closures and diversions had damaged that day's business.
However, Nick Miles, chairman of the Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce, said he thought that was unlikely to be a problem for traders in Bridgwater.
He said: "Because the route only skirts round the edge of the town centre, I would have thought overall the impact on Bridgwater would be fairly small.
"If anything, it might bring in some new people to the town who want to watch the race."
Tour directors say more detailed information about the route will be revealed in the next few months.
Are you looking forward to the Tour of Britain coming to Bridgwater? Have your say using the comment form below.
11:15am Wednesday 7th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Gordon, Bridgwater on 7:44pm Wed 7 May 08
I don't know if we are lucky or not, but the tour will go right past our house, so I will be out with my camera to take some photo's.
Even if it didn't go past the house, I would still come to Bridgwater to watch this race and take some picture's.
It is a GOOD opportunity for the people of Bridgwater and the surrounding to see something as exciting as this coming to our area.
I hope it will attract a lot of people to come to Bridgwater and see some of the history of the town.
Even if they only spend a few pounds in the shops it should make the shopkeeper's happy.
I don't know if we are lucky or not, but the tour will go right past our house, so I will be out with my camera to take some photo's.
Even if it didn't go past the house, I would still come to Bridgwater to watch this race and take some picture's.
It is a GOOD opportunity for the people of Bridgwater and the surrounding to see something as exciting as this coming to our area.
I hope it will attract a lot of people to come to Bridgwater and see some of the history of the town.
Even if they only spend a few pounds in the shops it should make the shopkeeper's happy.
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