Cycle ride to pass through North Solihull

THOUSANDS of cyclists are set to pass through North Solihull when a major cycle event takes place next year.
The proposed route for the Velo Birmingham, scheduled for May 12, 2019, will take riders on a stretch of local road as they head out of Birmingham and on into Warwickshire.
The flagship event, expected to attract around 15,000 competitors, has been hailed as an opportunity to promote Solihull and encourage physical activity.
But councillors have acknowledged that they must take steps to minimise disruption to the borough’s highways, with significant closures required to allow the all-day road race to take place.
Coun Bob Sleigh, the Leader of Solihull Council, said: "Clearly there are some technical issues but we did want it to showcase the borough...
"And if 15,000 people want to come and ride through Solihull then I think we should encourage that. "If I'm fit and ready on the day I might do a little bit of it - I don't think I'll do the 100 miles though. I might do Cooks Lane!"
The inaugural ride, which followed a rather different route which didn't include Solihull, was held last September.
While it attracted cyclists from around the UK and raised a handsome sum for charity, there was also a flurry of complaints from residents who complained about being trapped in their homes.
And there was further controversy after it emerged that some disgruntled bystanders had thrown nails and razor blades onto the course.
Coun Ted Richards, the cabinet member for transport and highways, said: "There is an important issue here, where we need as a local authority to fully engage with our residents and businesses to make sure that there's the minimum disruption and inconvenience, so people can enjoy what the Velo ride is all about."