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Velo south promo 3.jpgLegal challenge launched and protests planned against Velo South
With little more than a fortnight to go until the inaugural edition of the closed road sportive Velo South in West Sussex on 23 September, some locals opposed to the event are launching a legal challenge to try to stop it from taking place as well as a “walking protest” on the day.
The event will see 15,000 cyclists tackle a 100-mile route through the county, but the West Sussex County Times reports that solicitors acting on behalf of a group of local residents have delivered a pre-action letter to West Sussex County Council (WSCC).
The action is being taken by residents who are concerned that road closures associated with the event will prevent them being able to use their cars on the day and will also affect local businesses.
The solicitors’ letter includes “an urgent application for interim relief prohibiting the event from taking place, pending the final determination of the proceedings.”
The letter adds: “As such, any additional costs incurred by either WSCC or CSM towards the preparation of the event is now entirely at your own risk.”
A spokesman for West Sussex County Council, quoted in the newspaper, said: “On Friday, August 31, the county council received a letter from lawyers instructed by five residents.
“The letter makes a number of claims on behalf of those individuals about the procedure and arrangements for enabling road closures in connection with the proposed Velo South cycle event.
“The county council will, in accordance with the formal process in which the letter has been sent, consider its content and provide a full response to the lawyers as required.
“Given that such a formal legal process has now been commenced it will not be appropriate for the council to comment further on the letter at this stage.”
A website, Stop Velo South, encourages people to download and deliver letters outlining objections to the event to deliver to their neighbours, to put posters in their windows and to take part in a “walking protest.”
The website says that “A safe and legal walking protest has been registered with West Sussex Police.
“A walking protest is planned on the day which will be peaceful, legal and within our statutory rights.
“We encourage you to speak with your feet and walk with us.
“Exact details will be published nearer the event,” it adds.
Chris Matthews, one of the organisers of Stop Velo South, claims that the group now has more than 3,000 members.
Last week, he told the Midhurst and Petworth Observer: “The thing that surprised us is you’d expect fatigue would set in, that people would become more resigned to the event happening, but people are getting angrier as the day approaches because more and more people are discovering that it’s going to happen.”
Velo South is run by CSM Events, and a spokesman for the company told Spirit FM: "We are working closely with our partners West Sussex County Council, Chichester and Horsham District Councils and Parish Councils to deliver an event we hope will raise substantial amounts for charity and boost health, tourism and the economy within the West Sussex region.
“Over 162,000 leaflets have been distributed to residents and businesses across the whole route since February and numerous ‘roadshows’ have been held to communicate details about the event and the necessary road closures.
“We will assist residents or businesses that are affected wherever possible," he continued. "Should residents or businesses along the Velo South route have any specific concerns about access during the day they are encouraged to email route [at] velosouth.com.
The spokesman added: “Emergency services representatives have been involved in the entire Velo South planning process and services responding to any kind of emergency will be facilitated by the organisers, managed from the Event Control Room in partnership with emergency service representatives.”
CSM Events also organised last year’s Velo Birmingham which encountered similar protests.
Tacks and oil were spread on the route of the event last September, although it received an overwhelmingly positive reception and not just from particpants.
Rachel Farrow, who lives in the Worcestershire village of Little Witley, told road.cc that prior to Velo Birmingham, “the local press seemed to be on a mission to stoke the negative feelings with a rather anti cycling agenda.”
But she said that it had “generated a real buzz in our community,” that her children had been able to ride their bikes through their home village “which just isn’t possible usually due to the traffic that comes in off the main road.”
> Velo Birmingham saboteurs fail to spoil day for riders and locals
She added that while road closures meant taking a detour while travelling by car to a christening on the day of the event, “really it wasn’t that much hassle.”
It had been planned for Velo Birmingham to return for this year, but in February organisers said that it would instead be postponed until 2019 with a new route.
> No repeat of Vélo Birmingham this year - but event will return in spring 2019 and on a new route
We have asked CSM Events for their reaction to thee protests against Velo South.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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89 comments
Agree that the cyclists are selfish and yes let's tell then to f off!!!
A walking protest to support driving everywhere - are these people terminally thick?
F*ck 'em. Move it somewhere that is a bit more receptive to people swinging a leg over a bike and leave the likes of Chris Matthews to their sad obsession with stopping people having a bit of fun.
I just checked the route out and the majority of the area inside the closed loop is within some fantastic countryside.
What an opportunity for residents who are 'trapped' by the closed roads to get out for a walk in the countryside, visit a country pub and generally enjoy life inside the loop without the usual rat-run traffic blasting through the AONB.
Good point and it something that the residents enjoy - peace and quiet, not be descended upon by thousands. And you miss the point that those that need to travel, hospital appoinments, deliveries, working need to get outside the barricades. Why don't the cyclists cycle around their own local communities - why disturb others?
Have you considered that they probably are? Ride London pulls in people from all over, but generally the bulk of sportive riders will be pretty local.
You might prefer the image of hordes of outsiders descending on 'your' area, but some of your less gammony, fitter neighbours will be taking part.
I fully understand why you would wish to keep this countryside to yourself. Sadly, life isn't like that. We have to share this world of ours and make the occasional concession to those not fortunate enough to afford a house in West Sussex. It is also important to set an example to ones children and make them understand that none of us entitled to have everything we want and have it now. I live in France for part of the year and have an annual car rally closing roads around us for one day per year. Also, many cycling events spring up, closing rural circuits - the first of which we know about is when a Marshall redirects us. I don't like Motorsport, but I fully embrace the right of others to celebrate it. On one occasion I had to get to the airport while the car rally was on. I didn't complain, hold a protest or ask for compensation - I merely left an hour earlier than usual and took a different route. Velo South have told me that apart from the huge leaflet campaign, they held a roadshow and their Event Director took part in a Q&A session. Also, I am certain that if anyone has a special need on the day, Velo South will assist where they can, as they do care about you, our hosts. And as far as deliveries go, order early so that delivery is on Saturday. Unfortunately, there are none so blind as those that don't want to see, so, even if Velo South had a one to one with every resident we would still be hearing complaints of lack of information. Finally, as I have said elsewhere, Velo South have confirmed that they won't make a profit on this inaugural event and hope to donate £2 million to charity. I sincerely hope you reflect on your anger and enjoy the day, as you will receive a lot of good feeling in return.
Well I for one am still going to enjoy it! Velo birmingham was great fun - despite the delays caused. I'm sure this one will be as good - despite what the nimbys say.
I would however like to ask the question why the route needs to be closed for so long...I don't know why we can't have larger waves starting instead of the usual 100-200 riders, and also open up the roads straight behind the broom wagon. There's no point upsetting residents for the sake of it...
According to the closure map The first third of the route is open again by 12.15pm. The 2 main routes A24 and A272 are not closed at all although there are temporary traffic lights on the western end of the A272.
OMG! That'll bring about the end of the world, won't it?!?
Well can we ask motorists to only use the roads for a short period of time every day say 4-5am and then around 9-10pm would be best, afterall when they are using them they effectively close the roads off to cyclists and even to pedestrians.
They also have their own roads anyway, why can't they drive on them as they are provided and Highways England keeps them clear of debris, dog shit and snow/ice plus they are in nice straight lines.
It's only annoying to some because they're a bunch of selfish pricks who can't manage a few hours of not using their cars one day a year. Fuck 'em, they have it all to themselves the other 364 days!
I was watching Tour of Britain on TV and, although I wasn't certain of the car parking rules on the route, it looked like some 'bloody minded' people clearly weren't going to shift their cars for a pro cycling race; can't see them getting away with that in France for the TdF.
Cycling to work this morning on the first day back at school the traffic was pretty mental and I did think to myself, "the car is indeed King in this country". Made a mental note to dig out my helmet cam and rear cam later after not bothering to use them for the past few weeks; sad.
It's worth remembering that non-compliant cars are extremely easy to move out of the way with a basic fork-lift truck
.
Park the tractors out.
How will you get your agricultural work done?
I, like many others are only taking part in this event to raise money for charities who have had budgets slashed over the last couple of years.
It is a sad indictment that a few NIMBY's plan to spoil this for everyone else just because they *may* wish to drive to the local shop to pick up the Sunday paper.
Good point. So IF these NIMBYs get thier way, and the ride is stopped, I wonder if the media headline would be..
"Victory for local residents!"
or
"Local residents legal action prevents £xx Million going to charity!"
I know which one I would bet on.
It's not just a question of going to the local shops, people do have lives and many other things to do that are important to them. Because of the selfishness of the cyclists it prohibts people going about their lives.
Just give money to charity you don't need to ride a bike to do that.
If you want to donate to charity that is still possible you don't need to be a nuisance to do so.
It's a good job the road is closed otherwise the walking protest wouldn't be possible!
Hahaha!! Superb.
How about a tractor protest. The number of local farmers who are beoing prevented from feeding livestock should block the route with their tractors.
Yeah, nothing short of sad.
Same happens in our village every year as people need to follow diversions due to Pedal Scotland passing through.
People feel so entitled to be able to travel everywhere by car, at a speed and route of their choosing, that as soon as that ability gets impinged in any way, they spit the dummy.
The car is truly king sadly.
I see, so you put in a court application including “an urgent application for interim relief prohibiting the event from taking place, pending the final determination of the proceedings.” so close to the date of the event that you'll never actually have to have your day in court... Nice
Yes, leave it so late is that if you can get an interim hearing listed and heard and get interim relief at that hearing the Council then won't have enough time to appeal it. One of the points the Council should be making when defending any such application.
What has happened to this country that people can't see beyond their own interests and look at the wider good of things. It just makes me sad about the way the world is heading.
Velo South needs to be banned.
You seem to feel very strongly about this. I suggest you save up and buy your own road system. In the meantime I think you need to understand that public roads are for public use and sometimes that means the inconvenience of public events in that public space.
So no denial that your tactic is a late application to leave it too late for the matter to be dealt with substantively. Nor any denial that you can't see beyond your own self interest for the day. You really are a sad egocentric individual. In many respects I pity you because to live your life in such a sour manner must be quite depressing and stressful for you.
Sad. It's one day a year where they have to adjust their routines.
If they had a more positive attitude, surely there are opportunities to make it beneficial for everyone, not just cyclists?
But haters gonna hate.
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