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19 May 2009
Highland Perthshire Community United in Campaign to Bring Back Etape
Bring Back Etape! This is the resounding message of a campaign of support being mounted by businesses and individuals in Highland Perthshire following the incident at the Macmillan Cancer Support Etape Caledonia event on Sunday, which resulted in a number of cyclists experiencing punctures and causing the event to be halted for almost one and a half hours.
Strong feelings abound in the Highland Perthshire community at the moment. This prompted members of the local community to co-ordinate a campaign to enable those angered by the incident on Sunday to demonstrate their support for cyclists visiting the area and to ensure that Etape Caledonia returns in 2010.
James Rattray, chairman of the local Etape Caledonia sub group, commented, “My phone has been ringing off the hook since Sunday and my inbox is full of expressions of disgust that such an incident could happen in our part of the country. Local businesses and individuals are outraged that 3500 cyclists will be returning to their homes with a less than positive view of the area. They’ve asked us to ensure that we get the message across that they ARE welcome, and that we DO want them to come back next year.”
“We thought a poster campaign could be easily implemented and is accessible to both businesses, schools and individuals who can display it, to show visitors to the area, and in particular cyclists, that they are very welcome.” He continued.
“ We are urging as many people as possible to log on to the Cycle Highland Perthshire website to download their poster and put them on display this week.” He concluded.
The local tourist associations in Highland Perthshire have all condemned the action taken on Sunday affecting the enjoyment of thousands of participants who had travelled long distances to take part in Britain’s only closed road cycle event.
The Etape Caledonia brings not only the 3500 participants but also their supporters and thousands of spectators to the area. It is a major boost to the local economy as well as raising over quarter of a million pounds for the charity MacMillan Cancer Support.
The poster campaign has already garnered momentum with approximately 100 downloads since it was posted online earlier today.
Emma Burtles an organiser of the Perthshire Cycle Festival, held in Aberfeldy on the Saturday said “I was totally appalled to find out what had happened when we were stopped at Kinloch Rannoch and I felt embarrassed to be a local. I would like to lend support to the Etape Caledonia organisers in continuing the event next year.”
Nicholas Gilmour, vice chairman of the Dunkeld and Birnam Tourism Association, said “I hate to think what this has done for local tourism and for the future of the event. I, for one, will be downloading the poster for display today.”
Martin Anderson of Craigatin House in Pitlochry says “We have had some very disappointed cyclists here at Craigatin, and it’s been very embarrassing for me, a Highland Perthshire ambassador, to have to hear their stories. The poster is now taking pride of place in our reception area.”
This year more Highland Perthshire residents, organisations and businesses than ever before were involved in the weekend of events surrounding Etape Caledonia. On the Saturday the Perthshire Cycle Festival took place in Aberfeldy and attracted one thousand people, while many runners also enjoyed participating in the 14k “Bridge to Bridge” Fun Run.
Highland Perthshire has invested a lot of time and energy into making the Etape Caledonia weekend a success and they are unilaterally disappointed that the efforts of so many have been marred by the actions of what appears to be one individual.
If you wish to express your support to Bring Back Etape and welcome cyclists back to Highland Perthshire please download your poster at: http://www.cyclehighlandperthshire.com/home/etape-caledonia/support-hp-cycling.aspx
Highland Perthshire Community United in Campaign to Bring Back Etape
Bring Back Etape! This is the resounding message of a campaign of support being mounted by businesses and individuals in Highland Perthshire following the incident at the Macmillan Cancer Support Etape Caledonia event on Sunday, which resulted in a number of cyclists experiencing punctures and causing the event to be halted for almost one and a half hours.
Strong feelings abound in the Highland Perthshire community at the moment. This prompted members of the local community to co-ordinate a campaign to enable those angered by the incident on Sunday to demonstrate their support for cyclists visiting the area and to ensure that Etape Caledonia returns in 2010.
James Rattray, chairman of the local Etape Caledonia sub group, commented, “My phone has been ringing off the hook since Sunday and my inbox is full of expressions of disgust that such an incident could happen in our part of the country. Local businesses and individuals are outraged that 3500 cyclists will be returning to their homes with a less than positive view of the area. They’ve asked us to ensure that we get the message across that they ARE welcome, and that we DO want them to come back next year.”
“We thought a poster campaign could be easily implemented and is accessible to both businesses, schools and individuals who can display it, to show visitors to the area, and in particular cyclists, that they are very welcome.” He continued.
“ We are urging as many people as possible to log on to the Cycle Highland Perthshire website to download their poster and put them on display this week.” He concluded.
The local tourist associations in Highland Perthshire have all condemned the action taken on Sunday affecting the enjoyment of thousands of participants who had travelled long distances to take part in Britain’s only closed road cycle event.
The Etape Caledonia brings not only the 3500 participants but also their supporters and thousands of spectators to the area. It is a major boost to the local economy as well as raising over quarter of a million pounds for the charity MacMillan Cancer Support.
The poster campaign has already garnered momentum with approximately 100 downloads since it was posted online earlier today.
Emma Burtles an organiser of the Perthshire Cycle Festival, held in Aberfeldy on the Saturday said “I was totally appalled to find out what had happened when we were stopped at Kinloch Rannoch and I felt embarrassed to be a local. I would like to lend support to the Etape Caledonia organisers in continuing the event next year.”
Nicholas Gilmour, vice chairman of the Dunkeld and Birnam Tourism Association, said “I hate to think what this has done for local tourism and for the future of the event. I, for one, will be downloading the poster for display today.”
Martin Anderson of Craigatin House in Pitlochry says “We have had some very disappointed cyclists here at Craigatin, and it’s been very embarrassing for me, a Highland Perthshire ambassador, to have to hear their stories. The poster is now taking pride of place in our reception area.”
This year more Highland Perthshire residents, organisations and businesses than ever before were involved in the weekend of events surrounding Etape Caledonia. On the Saturday the Perthshire Cycle Festival took place in Aberfeldy and attracted one thousand people, while many runners also enjoyed participating in the 14k “Bridge to Bridge” Fun Run.
Highland Perthshire has invested a lot of time and energy into making the Etape Caledonia weekend a success and they are unilaterally disappointed that the efforts of so many have been marred by the actions of what appears to be one individual.
If you wish to express your support to Bring Back Etape and welcome cyclists back to Highland Perthshire please download your poster at: http://www.cyclehighlandperthshire.com/home/etape-caledonia/support-hp-cycling.aspx
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