Newark and Sherwood District Council announces traffic measures ahead of stage 4 of the Tour of Britain

Stage 4 of the prestigious Tour of Britain returns to Nottinghamshire on Wednesday 6 September 2023. We’re delighted to announce that Newark and Sherwood District will be hosting both the start and finish of stage 4 of the world-famous Tour of Britain cycle race

The race last came through Nottinghamshire in 2022 going from West Bridgford through to Mansfield.

This year Sherwood Forest will provide a stunning backdrop to the Tour of Britain cycle race when it returns to the county on Wednesday 6 September.

Stage four of the showpiece event will start at Forest Corner in Edwinstowe – a short distance away from the iconic Major Oak and RSPB Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre – before finishing in Newark-on-Trent on Wednesday 6 September.

For the safety of drivers, spectators and riders alike, temporary traffic restrictions will be introduced along the route.

The start of the race is being held at Forest Corner in Edwinstowe. Traffic will be able to access the car parks up until 10:45 when Swinecote road will be closed for the start of the race.

The road and car parks will remain closed until 12 noon, this is to make sure that all support vehicles can clear the area safely. Any spectators using these car parks will not be able to leave by car until after 12:00 noon.

There will be spectator activities taking place after the start of the race to keep everyone entertained until the car parks re-open.

As the race progresses through the district there will be a rolling roadblock in operation to keep disruption to a minimum. Spectators are of course welcome along the route, but they are asked to park with care and consideration, away from the main thoroughfare. As the race passes through some environmentally sensitive areas, parking on verges and in lay-bys especially on Swinecote Road will be prevented.

Southwell will have road closures and restrictions set up during the day, these will be clearly signposted in advance. Otherwise, there will be a rolling roadblock travelling through the district as the race progresses.

In Newark, where the stage will end, the following roads will be closed during the day:

• The B6166, Victoria Street and Portland Street,
• Boundary Road, from the B6166 through to the Hawton Road roundabout, except for access up to 11:00am,
• A section of Hawton Road from the Boundary Road roundabout to St Catherine's Close will be closed from 11am to 5pm,
• Part of Lombard Street will be closed from 13:30 through to 16:00.

Parking restrictions will be in place in Newark and Southwell from 6pm on Tuesday 5 September, so residents along the route have been asked to find alternative parking for their vehicles from 6pm, Tuesday evening in line with the Temporary Traffic Order. Whilst we will make every effort to remind residents and help them to comply with the order, any vehicles still in breach of these temporary restrictions are at risk of removal and a potential fine through a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).

The team from Via will be carrying out gulley cleaning whilst the roads are clear of parked vehicles.

“Welcoming the Tour of Britain to Newark and Sherwood is a great honour and will help to highlight our wonderful District to a wider audience,” states Councillor Paul Peacock, Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, “We hope residents will get behind the tour and come out to see the international cycling superstars who will be taking part. We really appreciate the help of our residents in making sure that the event is safe and spectacular, we understand that there will be some inconvenience, but we’re sure that the benefits to our communities along the route far outweigh those.”

Stage 4 of the Tour of Britain will start on Wednesday 6 September at Forest Corner in Edwinstowe and end at Sconce and Devon Park in Newark. Full details of the route and projected race timings can be found here: https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/culture-leisure/sport/tour-of-britain.

The modern-day Tour of Britain was launched in 2004 and – apart from the Covid-19 pandemic forcing its cancellation in 2020 – has taken place annually every September over eight days.

It is British cycling’s premier road event and will feature the world’s top teams and riders, alongside the best British-based cyclists, with a field expected to be made up of Tour de France winners, Olympians, and world champions.

Live coverage of the race is shown daily in the UK on ITV4, in addition to around the world.

The Tour of Britain is part of the UCI ProSeries, making it one of the most prestigious sporting events in the sport’s global calendar.