Plan your journey: Tour of Britain returns to Devon

Residents, commuters and visitors to Barnstaple on Monday September 3 are advised to leave more time for their journey as the Tour of Britain returns to the town.

Starting in Cranbrook, East Devon, the race covers 174km (108miles) of Devon countryside before finishing in Barnstaple town centre - and large numbers of spectators are expected to visit on race day.

In 2012, when Barnstaple held the stage start, more than 220,000 spectators watched the Devon Stage live.

To safely accommodate this major sporting event it is necessary to suspend some parking and close a number of roads in the afternoon towards a final sprint on the Strand.

Organisers are working hard to keep road closures to a minimum but there will be some disruption and delays, particularly between 1.30pm and 4pm, in and around Barnstaple.

The closures will limit access to some businesses and properties.

It is recommended that the public walk, cycle or use public transport on the day if possible. If you are driving please leave plenty of time and ensure you plan your journey to take account of the road closures and parking suspensions.

Hourly train services are running from Exeter Central and regular bus services are running to and from the town.

The Tarka Trail connects Bideford and Braunton with Barnstaple and is one option for cyclists wishing to travel between the towns.

Cyclists intending to travel part of the way by train are advised to check with the train operator on their policy regarding the carriage of bikes.

To help plan your journey further details of local road closures can be found here:https://www.devontourofbritain.co.uk/road-closures/

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management with responsibility for cycling said:

“The Tour gives Devon a massive boost, with the last two Devon Stages injecting an extra £11m into the local economy.

“And, as in 2012 when Barnstaple held the stage start, the town will be one of the communities that will benefit the most.

“Businesses in Barnstaple are recommended to reschedule deliveries where possible to and those attending medical or business appointments should plan their travel arrangements.

“If you are a hotelier or holiday accommodation provider in the area, please ensure your guests are aware of the event.
“Please plan your journey and allow extra time for travelling.”

Councillor Rodney Cann, North Devon Council’s Executive Member for Environment said: “This is a prestigious event and we are delighted to welcome it to North Devon. It will undoubtedly give a boost to our local economy and encourage more people to get on their bikes and stay healthy. There will be some road closures on the day, and this may impact waste and recycling collections for those residents who live along the route. We will take what measures we can to avoid disruption to collections and we will update our website with instructions for residents as we get closer to the race day.”