It seems the Tour of Britain in Wells last Friday was the source of much controversy. A lot of businesses based in the city recorded losses due to the city being closed-down rather than takings due to the increased footfall? With the current economic climate being on a knife edge, can Wells not risk closing down again? How about for events like 'Spend a Night on the Town in the City'? Should they be cancelled? Is enjoyment only permitted beyond the City limits?

By redlight at 15:04 on 21/09/11

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I think that's short-termism - even if the Tour visitors did not spend much when they were here (which would surprise me, given the numbers about) surely they've now seen what the city is like are are more likely to visit in the future...

By TimothyL12 at 15:11 on 21/09/11
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Most events bring very little to businesses to be honest, or they'll bring extra business to some at the loss of others? Even those events that bring in a lot of extra business (Eg. Carnival) usually do so at the the expense of reduced custom in the days leading up to and immediately after the event; there's only so much cash to go around.

It doesn't surprise me that the bike race crowd spent very little, as they're here for a very specific purpose that has nothing to do with the city itself, so other than a few additional coffees it's not really going to add much to anyone's tills and I'm very skeptical it would ever bring people back to Wells? We opened earlier that day and had 5 staff on in total, on the promise of 1000s of hungry people being in the city. We had one customer in 2 hours! But I was already doubtful, as I happened to be passing through Kendal the Monday before and their town center was deserted (long before anyone knew that that leg of the race had been cancelled)!

"Night on the Town" is different, as it's raison d'être is to promote the city and its businesses, so it would be futile hosting it anywhere other than in the city centre! A bike race, on the other hand, can be easily hosted on a track or, at the very least, on dedicated rural roads and forest trails, etc?

I can understand the need to have events like the bike race but, as someone who has no interest in the sport, it does seem to be a lot of hassle and expense for very few benefits? The cost of policing alone must be phenomenal (in the 5 minutes I was watching, I counted 20 police motorcycles, 5 cars and a van), let alone the cost to businesses and other tax payers for, what is, a minority sport?

It's also ironic that a sport that is so 'green' hosts an event that must have a carbon footprint the size of London!

By KingsHead2 at 16:00 on 21/09/11
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While I was walking around the town before the event (even up to around 10.30am) it was indeed a ghost town, very few people around at all. I think the event possibly did put many people off travelling to the town for the day unless they were cycling fans. After the race it seemed very busy however, and I think the overall short and long term benefits of the race make it worthwhile for the area.

I agree with the carbon footprint quote though - there were plenty of gas guzzling vehicles around! Having said that the Tour has helped to reinvigorate cycling as an activity and encouraged many people to take up cycling.

Unfortunately there are several other local events that impinge on traders in Wells and other Mid-Somerset towns while they are on: carnivals, the Glastonbury Festival, the Bath and West Show and someone will always find a cause to moan about the ones that aren't their thing!

By Cydertron at 18:56 on 21/09/11
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