As the build-up continues to the festivities of the Tour de France this summer, Ilkley has had confirmation of yet another big event taking place in town.

The build-up to July 5, when the Grand Depart passes through town, will now see Ilkley get its own town centre cycle races, in addition to events such as the inaugural Ilkley Bike Show planned to coincide with the Tour de France.

As well as playing host to top riders from the region, just as Otley’s own annual cycle race does, the Ilkley event, it is hoped, will serve to encourage younger riders and give them something to aim for.

The event will, of course, be an added attraction for the many visitors expected in town, and probably a lot of residents too.

Once again, however, many people who live here will be conscious of the escalating disruption to everyday life in the town as a result of the Grand Depart, its expected visitor boom and associated events.

Long road closures on the actual Grand Depart race day, and a bigger than usual influx of visitors, have long been expected by most. However, not everyone was expecting to hear of further road disruption in the valley being likely on July 6 – when the Grand Depart comes back through Addingham.

And more road closures to make way for an evening bike race in the days leading up to the Tour de France may not have been so widely known either.

Ilkley Cycling Club is no doubt working for the good of the town and the local cycling enthusiasts, and doing all it can to make all those likely to be affected aware of any disruption likely from the evening road races.

Hopefully, everyone will be kept well informed and can make plans around the arrangements – which may well include coming out to watch the race themselves.

Care concern

Anyone who has a relative in care will know it can be a stressful experience finding the right home and it is paramount that the family and friends are confident that the best possible care is being given.

So we must sympathise with those who have family in the Red Gables home who have been doubly hit.

Not only has an inspection by the Care Quality Commission found that the home was failing to meet national standards in several areas, but the owners of Red Gables have now decided that they can no longer offer nursing care.

This means that while able residents can still live in Red Gables as a residential home, those who need a greater degree of nursing care must leave.

Those residents have been given 28 days’ notice to find alternative accommodation, which is worry and strain for families but even greater stress for those who might have no family at all to call on.

While it is the right thing to do for the home to reposition itself if it feels it cannot maintain the level of care needed to hit national standard targets, this is a worrying time for all those involved.

Every effort must be made on all sides, including the social services, to ensure that all the displaced residents find suitable alternative accommodation and that the transfer is as quick, easy and without stress as is possible.