Backing giving to Le Grand Depart

TOURISM organisation Welcome to Yorkshire has secured support from Prime Minister David Cameron and the Cabinet for Yorkshire’s Grand Depart 2014.

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, was invited by the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to brief the Cabinet in Leeds yesterday about how Le Tour was secured for the county and how Government departments can help support it over the next 18 months.

The region will host the opening two stages of the race in July 2014.

Mr Verity said: “Being asked to brief the Cabinet about the Tour de France shows how seriously this Government is taking the Grand Départ. This is undoubtedly a moment for the whole country not just Yorkshire to celebrate and today’s positive discussions and feedback from the Cabinet show we are now moving in the right direction.”

“Make no mistake this is a national event, co-ordinated in Yorkshire, for the benefit of Britain. The Cabinet understood that today and I look forward to more positive conversations in the weeks and months ahead.”

Mr Verity is hopeful that funding will be made available from government to support the event.