Speaking in a House of Commons debate about the 2014 Tour de France cycle race, which is to start in Leeds, Cleethorpes constituency MP, Martin Vickers put in a bid for the route to the Channel coast to pass through his constituency.
He emphasised the contribution to the local economy that would be gained from the race and urged the local authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships and all agencies involved to get behind the campaign that would show the area to a bigger audience.
In reply to the debate the Sports Minister, Hugh Robertson complimented the initiative that had resulted in the race coming to Yorkshire.
For further information please contact Martin Vickers on 0207 219 7212
Extracts from speech:
It is a pleasure to take part in the debate under your chairmanship, Mr Gray. I, too, congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Skipton and Ripon (Julian Smith) on securing it. I feel something of an intruder, as a Lincolnshire yellow belly, although my hon. Friend the Member for Brigg and Goole (Andrew Percy), who has one foot in Lincolnshire, has also come along to the debate.
On being elected to the House, I never anticipated that I would make a speech in favour of the Tour de France passing through Lincolnshire, so this is somewhat bizarre. The ideal route to get out of Yorkshire, should any of my colleagues wish to do so, is over the Humber bridge. That iconic construction would make a fantastic advert for the civil engineering skills of British industry.
.........................It would then head to the winner of Britain in Bloom, and the east coast’s premier resort, Cleethorpes. From there, the beauty of the Lincolnshire wolds opens up—an area of outstanding natural beauty with magnificent landscapes. The route would then head towards the county town of Lincoln, with its magnificent cathedral high on the hill—it is perhaps even greater, dare I suggest, than York minster.
..................he is quite right to draw attention to the fact that the Tour is a great opportunity to boost our local economies, and I urge all the agencies—tourism boards, local authorities and local enterprise partnerships—to get together and to work closely with the Government and sporting organisations. This is a tremendous opportunity to give a much needed boost to some areas of northern England.
If we can pull this off and get the tour to pass not only through the great county of Yorkshire, but down into Lincolnshire, that will again emphasise the closeness of their links. I urge the Government to co-ordinate every possible agency to work on that, so that we can benefit the whole economy