A cycling event which would attract big crowds has been planned in the New Forest over the weekend of 15 and 16 May but Ringwood Town Council’s recreation, leisure and open spaces committee has huge concerns about it.

At a recent meeting Cllr Philip Day pointed out that the date fell before the easing of restrictions on 17 May.

He added that the event would be likely to attract hundreds of people (participants and supporters), encouraging people to visit the New Forest and to travel the long route through various towns.

Cllr Day thought this totally inappropriate at a time when people are being encouraged to stay local and it was difficult to see how the guidelines and regulations, including social distancing, could be complied with, to enable the event to take place legally and safely.

New Forest District Council (NFDC) had been conducting a consultation on the event with the deadline for representations being 18 March.

The recreation, leisure and open spaces committee has asked the town council to express its concern about the event which would not comply with the Government’s ‘road map’ out of lockdown. It is urging NFDC to engage with Hampshire County Council to assess whether the event could take place in accordance with government guidelines and if that is not possible for the event to be cancelled.