A Silloth cycling festival organised by Cumberland Council has achieved a high approval rating from visitors.
The Solway Coast Cycling Festival was held on Sunday 4 June. An independent evaluation of the event has shown that satisfaction rates were very high - 68% rated the event as very good.
People thought the event was well organised, they loved that it was family-orientated with plenty for kids to do.
They said how friendly everyone was, they enjoyed the racing, the good weather, and the fact that so much was free.
For each pound invested in the event, almost double was put back into the local economy.
The festival did not just have a financial return - 30% of people that attended said that the festival had made them want to cycle more often, and 18% said it had made them think about taking up cycling.
This year, with money used from the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, efforts were made to expand the event.
Cumberland Council worked closely with Carlisle Cycling Association and British Cycling to introduce a town centre race -The Cumberland Cobbler. The race had four categories which were the youth race, women's race, men’s race and a regional race. All were well attended races.
In addition to the town centre race, the family orientated event also had a small producer's market, smoothie bikes, kids' arts and craft, kids cycling skills and fairground. Fusion Extreme attended the event with two bikers (one biker was a European BMX champion and the other biker from Team GB) giving an exciting mountain bike show and BMX workshops.
Cumberland Council Cllr Anne Quilter, Portfolio holder for Vibrant and Healthy Places said:
“The event was a great success and showcased the area and the amazing cycling routes around Silloth including the Hadrian’s Wall route.
“For the first time, we had a town centre cycling race along with a producers' market. We will use the evaluation of the event to build on it and make improvements in the future.”
This is the third time the Solway Coast Cycling Festival has taken place in Silloth, having previously been held in 2021 and 2022.
The festival was organised in partnership with Silloth Town Council, Carlisle Cycling Association and British Cycling with funding provided by the UK government’s Shared Prosperity Fund and Cumberland Council.