Officials from the Tour of Britain cycle race visited Burnham-On-Sea this week to see for themselves the quality of roads in the town.
It comes after Somerset County Council last week moved to reassure town councillors that they should not be concerned about the condition of Marine Drive, which next month will be in the national media spotlight when it becomes the finishing line for the 185km South West Stage of the Tour of Britain cycle race.
The Tour Of Britain’s Race Director, Graham Jones, joined Graham Bagley of Somerset County Council, and Avon and Somerset Police’s Events Planning Officer Adrian Gridley in a visit to Marine Drive on Monday afternoon (as pictured) to see the route of the race for themselves.
After the meeting, Mr Bagley told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “There were no concerns at all about the road surface. We have performed many inspections along Marine Drive already and no issues are outstanding. A full risk assessment of the whole route was conducted and everyone is happy.”
Burnham-On-Sea.com reported earlier this month how a large part of Marine Drive had recently been resurfaced, but several hundred metres of tarmac near the race’s finishing line, at the junction with Pier Street, had been missed.
At last week’s town council meeting, councillors said the condition of the road surface could be dangerous for the cyclists as they approach the finishing line.
Cllr Neville Jones said: “The surface of Marine Drive near the fountain urgently needs to be brought to the attention of the county council.”
Burnham-On-Sea.com exclusively reported in February – two months before local newspapers – that our town would be chosen as the finishing spot for the race on September 9th. The race is set to start in the south of Somerset in Chard. Digital TV channel ITV4 will be broadcasting extensive coverage of the race, along with regional and international television channels.
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