by Tom Walsh
Yorkshire is preparing for welcoming the most famous cycling race in the world as the Tour de France is due to come to the county next year.
Prior to the arrival of the event, councils have agreed to a planning amnesty which will give more leeway in terms of setting up temporary campsites, caravan parks and car parks.
Harrogate Borough Council has announced the relaxation of planning regulations while other authorities have invested nearly £900,000 to ready Yorkshire for the Tour de France with 500,000 visitors expected to attend.
Councillor Alan Skidmore, cabinet member for Transport, Planning and Economic Development said: “We want to make it easy, not difficult, as we are going to rely on others to help us cope with these numbers.”
The Yorkshire leg of the Tour de France starts with a Leeds to Harrogate run on 5 July, before the peloton moves onto York, Sheffield, Cambridge and London (6-7 July).
