A CONTROVERSIAL cycling event, which divided opinion in Worcester, could be coming back to the city this year.

The second edition of Velo Birmingham, which saw thousands of cyclists ride 100 miles through the West Midlands last September, will be on the agenda at Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet meeting on Thursday, February 8.

Many residents and business owners will be anxious about what the Conservative councillors running the authority agree to regarding the event.

Last year, many people were upset by the length of time that roads were closed in the county to make way for the event.

There were also suggestions that the council hadn’t asked residents their opinion before agreeing in principal to closing roads for up to eight hours, and that when the public opposition became apparent, County Hall could not ask the Velo organisers, CSM Active, to change the length of the road closures.

However, hundreds of people enjoyed seeing the Velo in the county on Sunday, September 24 last year and welcomed the boost to the economy as people spent money in local businesses before and after watching the race.

One businesswoman who felt she suffered last year was Julie Taylor, who runs the Wharf Caravan Park at Holt Fleet near Ombersley, a few miles north of Worcester.

Her immediate reaction was “oh, no” when she heard that the sportive ride might be returning this year.

She said: “It was the road closures that caused us all the problems. People didn’t come and stay that weekend because of the closures, so we lost business.”

She added that those that did come and stay weren’t able to leave by car for a long time during the Sunday.

“The road was meant to be closed between 8am and 3.30pm but it didn’t open until 4pm because nobody came to open up the roads when they said they would, so customers who stayed couldn’t get out for hours," she told the Worcester News.

“But that’s the only problem I have with it, the totally closed roads and the length of time they were closed for. The cyclists themselves were fine.”

Last September 15,000 riders raced along a loop through the county to the north and west of Worcester, passing Kidderminster, Ombersley and Droitwich Spa before heading back to Birmingham.

Thousands of people turned out to watch the Velo last year and many locals said they felt the event was well organised and good for the county.

The Gardeners Arms in Droitwich organised a street party for last year's Velo and manager Paul Evans would love to see the event return.

He said: “We’d definitely like it to come back. The ride came past the pub last year and we put on a street party, we had music in the garden and got other local businesses to do the food and the street was packed. We had a really good day and it was good for business

"Loads of people came out to enjoy it, and even the riders as they came through were cheering and saying ‘Well done, Droitwich!’ It was great."

Clive Slade wrote to the Worcester News after the event to offer his support.

"I operate a transport related business which just by its definition depends on the unhindered use of our road network," he wrote.

"I am a realist and not idealist and accept at times that this for many reasons is not possible and I plan accordingly.

"The 2017 Velo event did have an impact on me personally and I had to change my business planned route at a cost to me.

"As I observed the event through gritted teeth, I have to concede it really was a spectacle whereupon professional, amateur and newbie cyclists of all ages were enjoying the cycling on open, safe and restricted roads whilst apparently raising funds for their chosen charity."

No route or date for 2018’s event has yet been published, though riders are being asked to pre-register on the event’s website.

The Worcester News contacted CSM Active for more information and a statement, but nobody was available to comment.