Tour O The Borders cycling event subject of consultation

This follows an application from the event organiser, Hillside Outside, to operate the event on the same routes as had been agreed for the 2020 event, but which unfortunately had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions.

The event starts in Peebles and the cyclists travel mainly over quiet back roads and climb several stiff hills along the way, with the inclusion of the famous Talla Wall Climb.

Whilst travel times in the region will be affected, access will be maintained across the Tweed Bridge and Cardrona Bridge throughout the day. There will be no closures north of Peebles High Street but several other roads throughout the region will be closed. The full list is available on the Tour O' the Borders website.

The consultation is open until Sunday 1 August and is in addition to the organisers’ own discussions with local community organisations and residents.

A formal public consultation will take place following this year’s event and ahead of the submission of any application for a 2022 event to understand more broadly the views of communities and residents on the event and the impact of road closures. It will also form the basis of future discussions with the event organiser.

Councillor Mark Rowley, Executive Member for Economic Regeneration and Finance said: “The Tour O’ the Borders has become an extremely successful and well supported event in the amateur cycling calendar and provides significant economic benefits to the Scottish Borders due to the number of participants, many of whom travel from far and wide to take part.

“The proposed route for the 2021 event remains as it has for a number of years, however we would still encourage residents to provide their views. We look forward to taking forward a more in-depth consultation in due course and have further discussions with the event organiser around the options for the 2022 event and beyond, including potential changes to the route.”