Two workshops to help local businesses get ready for the new Way of the Roses Cycle Route are being hosted by Craven District Council.

The workshops are taking place at:

Bentham Town Hall (upstairs meeting room) on Tuesday, 26 January 2010 between 6.30-8.30pm and Victoria Hall, Settle on 3 February 2010 between 6.30-8.30pm.

And have been arranged through a local partnership of Craven District Council, the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Sustrans.

The Way of the Roses is a new Cycle Route developed by a partnership of organisations led by the National Cycling Charity Sustrans and is due to open in June 2010. When completed it will run from Morecambe to Bridlington and be around 180 miles long. The Route will pass by Low and High Bentham, Clapham, Austwick, Settle, Airton and Appletreewick before carrying on to Pateley Bridge.

Craven District Councillor, Richard Foster, Lead Member for Developing and Strengthening Craven’s Economy said:

“Sustrans cycle routes are incredibly popular and this new route should bring many more tourists into Craven. Users of the Route will require all sorts of facilities along the way such as accommodation refreshments, cycle store, cycle hire/repairs, luggage transfer, etc. The workshops have been organised to give local businesses the chance to hear about how they could make the most of the new route. “

For further information and to book a place on either of the events below, please contact Lynn Whitaker on 01756 747629, or by email lwhitaker@cravendc.gov.uk