Council cites tight budgets for event cuts
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
DUE to financial pressures, Banbridge District Council will not be supporting two sporting events in 2012.
The organisers of the 2012 Tour of the North International Cycle Race had proposed to bring a stage to the Banbridge District Council area on Saturday, 7 April.
The format would be one day's racing over a 70-mile route which would utilise Rathfriland as the host town in a four day overall event.
The event would follow the opening time trial event at Stormont which is staged on Good Friday.
An event organiser estimated that there would be 100 competitors and between 15,000 to 20,000 spectators over the course of the event.
The organisers were seeking financial support from the council of £3,000 and while the council previously supported the event, it has not been staged in the district for a number of years.
Therefore the council agreed that "given the financial pressures on council" they would not be supporting the event this year.
Meanwhile, the organisers of the Milk Cup 2012 also requested financial assistance from the council towards accommodation costs, including all meals, of a team that is set to compete in the tournament.
The projected cost was £2,548,40 however, according to a council spokesman, due to "financial pressures on council, it is with regret that we cannot support this event".
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