A national cycling event that was supposed to bolster footfall in Kirkcaldy High Street was, for some, having a “negative” effect on trade, it has been claimed.
Bill Harvey, the manager of BID organisation Kirkcaldy 4 All, said retailers were experiencing little or no benefit from the Pearl Izumi Tour Series, which took place in the town in May.
The Courier exclusively revealed this week that the event will not return to the streets of the Lang Toun next year, after Fife Council pulled financial support.
Despite describing the championship as a “great sporting spectacle”, Mr Harvey, whose organisation represents local businesses, said many retailers will not lament the absence of the Tour Series.
“The jury was out,” he said. “They had promised us a certain level of attendance, which just wasn’t achieved.
“It could also be argued that the event shut the High Street off and actually had a negative effect. Some people felt that barriers going up first thing in the morning had a negative impact on their trade.”
The Tour Series has been run in Kirkcaldy town centre for the past two years with a day of activities promoting the races, which took place in the evening.
However, many roads were closed off to facilitate the construction of the circuit, which Mr Harvey claims put some shoppers off.
Although this year’s crowd was significantly up on the 2012 event, most retailers had not stayed open and were unable to capitalise on spectator numbers.
However, Mr Harvey said another large event, July’s “Kirkcaldy Carnival”, had proved significantly more successful, adding: “The carnival can fill the High Street with 10,000 people, which boosts trade and doesn’t shut off the town centre.”
Kirkcaldy council budgets contributed £20,000 to help stage a round of the Tour Series this year, funding which local area committee chairman Neil Crooks says could not be justified in the current economic climate.
He told The Courier: “As budgets get tighter and tighter, the council has a duty to ensure every penny of money the area committee spends is done so wisely and gives the greatest return for the community.”