As Highway Authority, Gloucestershire County Council are responsible for over 3,300 miles of road network which are used by residents, businesses and visitors across the county. Our aim is to have a resilient transport network that enables sustainable economic growth, by providing door to door travel choices. Cycling is a key part of this and supports a wide range of objectives including economic, social, environmental and health benefits. Most of the county’s population are within 5km of key services, jobs and education and so encouraging greater numbers to consider cycling to reach these, is a central policy in our Local Transport Plan. As such we are pleased to see the Tour of Britain coming through the county again this year and to be supporting the Cheltenham Festival of Cycling.
Cabinet Member for Highways, Vernon Smith, said “It’s an exciting opportunity to see cycling making the headlines in Gloucestershire and I’m really pleased that we’re able to support the Cheltenham Festival of Cycling.”
The Cheltenham Trust is a major supporting partner to Cheltenham Borough Council, helping to engage schools and families in cycling related activities. Operating five iconic sporting and cultural venues across the town the Trust seeks to enrich the lives of residents and visitors to Cheltenham, through a year round programme of activities, events, performances and opportunities. We are working with local clubs and schools to co-ordinate a series of races on the finishing stretch ahead of the main event, and are offering cycling themed activities during the summer holidays to engage children and families in cycling, whilst developing target programmes that will allow people inspired by the Tour of Britain to develop their own cycling skills and become more active as a result.
The Trust is taking responsibility for our Pittville Park Kids Zone and their team has a lot of exciting things planned.
For more information about the Trust and to see what’s happening at the Town Hall, Leisure@, the Wilson and the Pump Rooms, visit the Cheltenham Trust website.
Cotswolds Tourism is the official destination management organisation promoting and marketing tourism across the wider Cotswolds. It is a partnership of tourism businesses, supported by local authorities of Cheltenham Borough Council, Cotswold District Council, Stroud District Council, Tewkesbury Borough Council, West Oxfordshire District Council and the Cotswolds Conservation Board. The team is excited to work with everyone involved in this event - particularly supporting with media promotion. Chris Grimes chair of the board says: “Cotswolds Tourism’s priority is to grow the area’s visitor economy by raising awareness of the destination and generating additional tourism visits and spend. The Cotswolds is a superb place for visitors and cyclists of all abilities, offering wonderful countryside, attractions and plenty of cafes and pubs. The towns and picturesque villages along the route will be eager to welcome the race, and we know it will generate lots of interest in cycling now and into the future. We want businesses and communities to engage in the event as it will showcase all the area has to offer”.
The Bicycle Hub offers bicycle hire, cycle repairs and servicing, and new and second-hand bike sales; enabling the locals and visitors to Cheltenham to explore the area on two wheels!
The hub has a great selection of bikes available for short and long term hire including mountain bikes, E-Bikes, Tandems and even tag-a-longs for budding cyclists. They also have a good selection of pre-loved bicycles available for sale for those looking to become permanent pedal-ers.
As the only bike hire facility in Cheltenham, The Bicycle Hub jumped at the opportunity to get involved with the Cheltenham Festival of Cycling by collecting bike donations for the bright green Bike Trail Initiative, which will be dotted around the town. To donate a bike to them for the trail, pop into their station HQ at 278 Gloucester Road, Cheltenham Spa Railway Station, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL51 7AG.
Managing Director Steve Short says “I’ve always been a big believer in upcycling and recycling and we regularly take in pre-loved bikes, refitting them to be used again, or stripping them for parts and recycling. The bike trail initiative is a great way to reuse bikes for the benefit of the town, and we’re delighted to see so many people donating.”
The Butterfly Garden Project is an educational, therapeutic and recreational scheme, supporting individuals with special needs and autism, those recovering from mental and social stresses and those needing some recuperation from everyday life.
The project is located at Dundry Nurseries in Badgeworth, Cheltenham and offers diverse and stimulating activities in a safe and welcoming environment for all. The team at the Butterfly Garden have been busy with their paintbrushes to support the Festival and have livened up the donated bikes to be a vibrant bright green ready for the Bike Trail Initiative.
Students at the Butterfly Garden have most notably been helping with painting the zingy green bikes for our bike trail, diligently painting everything from the tyres to the saddles! See what the Butterfly Garden has been up to...