CHARITY riders and supporters have praised the inaugural Vélo Birmingham event as a great success but frustration this week remained in some quarters over the many road closures the massive sportive brought with it.

Ste Williams, from Wordsley, (pictured below) was among those taking on the 100-mile ride to help raise cash for a good cause.

The 28-year-old trade operations manager for a housing association had taken up cycling around 12 months ago but Vélo Birmingham was his first event and he raised more than £700 for the NSPCC by completing the challenge.

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Andy Poulton, (below) a 45-year-old licensing manager for Sandwell Council, also took part in the event after battling kidney cancer and was cheered on by his children as he rode through Kinver in his first cycling event.

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While - retired deputy head teacher Nigel Aston, a keen charity cyclist from Kinver who worked at the former Grange School, took on Vélo for fun and said of the event: "From a local rider's point of view it was a great success, well organised and much better supported by the public than I thought it would be. Yes there was disruption but surely worthwhile."

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The former Stourbridge rugby player, who completed the course in five hours 41 minutes without stopping, said cycling is a sport he can still enjoy - having broken his neck a few years ago.

Having been knocked off his bike at the Norton Road traffic island some years ago, Nigel (pictured above waving triumphantly) also added: "It was so enjoyable to ride round the islands freely without the risk of traffic."

But those affected by road closures were not impressed at being unable to drive freely to work and leisure outings - and calls have been made for the organisers to rethink the route and ensure social care providers are consulted with ahead of next year’s event.

Lorna Priest, manager of Safeharbour residential care home in Hagley Road, Stourbridge, said: “This side of Stourbridge was completely cut off from the other side. It was a bit of a nightmare. I’m all for raising money for charity but they need to think about the road structure and how it affects people. If this is going to happen in future there has to be consultation with care providers.”

While Councillor Nic Barlow (pictured below) said he “personally wouldn’t want it” in his ward again and he added: “It’s been quite clear there’s been no consultation or communication. It wasn’t put to the vote. It was a commitment made by the previous administration that we had to honour.

Stourbridge News: Cllr Nic Barlow: "Moving the crossings wouldn't really achieve anything."

“I know it’s only for a couple of hours but people want to go out and about and enjoy themselves. We don’t want people to be inconvenienced. This is a Birmingham event.

“By all accounts it all went very well. It was a huge exercise and the first time it had happened. Everybody will be doing a bit of soul searching but I think Vélo need to publicly apologise to residents for the inconvenience and lack of consultation and reflect on that if it’s going to happen next year.

“There does need to be frank discussions about how we move forward.”

A Vélo spokesperson said: “Vélo Birmingham organisers, CSM Active, worked hard to resolve as many local issues as possible by devising specific local traffic management plans, which included access for all emergency services across the route. 

"The route was agreed in partnership with all of our Local Authority partners, plus emergency services and transport operators.”

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