Parking restrictions and rolling road closures for Tour of Britain in Cornwall
Cornwall Council is urging residents and businesses to plan ahead, with one week to go until race day
Last updated 30th Aug 2021
Residents and businesses along the Tour of Britain cycle route in Cornwall are being asked to plan ahead in terms of parking and potential road closures.
Cornwall Council is reminding people to check whether the place they usually park vehicles will be available to them on race day.
Along the 111 mile race route, certain Clearway sections must be kept clear of parked traffic to ensure the safety of spectators and competitors.
Over the coming week, Clearway locations are being clearly marked with signs on pavements and roads and leaflets with maps will be distributed by hand in affected communities or placed on car windscreens.
Residents are also being told to expect rolling road closures while the cyclists pass through, which usually last for 30-40 minutes.
What traffic restrictions will be in place?
All affected roads will be open to traffic as normal, but the Temporary Clearway Order means there must be no stopping or parking on them during the times shown.
For most places this will be for only a few hours on Sunday 5th September but on a few Penzance roads there will be restrictions from 16.00 on Friday 3rd September through to 18.00 on Sunday 5th.
The Temporary Clearway Order being put in place requires vehicles to be parked elsewhere during the stated times, or the owners risk them being towed away to a safe location locally.
In addition to these clearways, each location on the route will experience a Rolling Road Closure while the cyclists pass through.
Typically this takes around 30-40 minutes, during which time traffic on adjoining roads, drives and car parks will held back.
You will know when a rolling road closure is about to happen because it is preceded by police clearing the road and forewarning pedestrians. Emergency blue light vehicles will always be given precedence.
Stephen Rushworth, Cornwall Council’s Cabinet Member overseeing the preparations for the race, said: “Don’t worry if you see our leaflet on your windscreen, it’s not a parking ticket! It’s simply a polite advance notice that you will have to park somewhere else for a few hours on Sunday 5th September and in parts of Penzance from Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th September.
“We are setting up temporary clearways – just for that weekend - on parts of the route where there must be no stopping and no parking. For many residents who usually park on the highway, we may be able to suggest somewhere else for you to park at no cost.
"Moving your vehicle out of the way means that everyone can enjoy the cycle race, and the fast-moving competitors can get through some of our road’s tight spots without danger.
“I’d like to thank everyone for co-operating, and helping to make the race safe and spectacular".
Cornwall will host the Tour of Britain on Sunday 5th September, with a 183km opening stage from Penzance to Bodmin.
The route embraces some of Cornwall's iconic rural and coastal landscapes and showcases historic towns, including St Just, St Ives, Hayle, Camborne, Pool, Redruth, Falmouth, Penryn, Truro, Newquay and St Austell.
The full route for each of the stages of the event can be found on the Tour of Britain website.