By EMMA MUIR

 

Local councillors claim they were kept in the dark over the cancellation of the Tour Series cycling race in Kirkcaldy.

 

At a Kirkcaldy Area Committee, Councillor Susan Leslie said she was angry about the closure of the event, suggesting that the committee had not been consulted over the issue.

 

“I think it is shocking that this didn’t come to committee. We as elected members shouldn’t have to find out information like this from a newspaper.”

 

Councillor David Ross agreed with Councillor Leslie, stating he had found out about the cancellation in an article he had read in the Courier.

 

“When I found out about this, I was very angry and disappointed with the way it was taken forward. I understand it was an officer-led decision, but it would have been good if the area members had been given an input.”

 

The town had hosted the first round of the multi-stage race, which is Britain’s most televised cycling series, for the past two years. It has been televised on ITV 4 and was a source of high publicity for the town.

 

The High Street and Hill Street were shut during the day of the event, even though the race itself wasn’t held until the evening. This angered local business owners, leading to complaints about the general organisation of the event.

 

The series cost £65,000, and due to disappointing levels of revenue, it was decided that the event would be cancelled in the future, despite being highly popular with sporting enthusiasts. The event also failed to bring in the big crowds that were promised by the organisers, with only a quarter of the expected 10,000 turning out.

 

However, the Area Committee has said that other more successful events, such as the Kirkcaldy Carnival, will be held in 2014.