THE future looks brighter for a major cycling spectacle after it received “overwhelming” public support.

In the summer it was announced Tour O The Borders would not take place in 2024 due to complaints over road closures.

But a survey was hosted by the region’s local authority (SBC) to gauge opinion.

And more than three quarters of respondents said they were supportive of the event – feeling it had a positive impact on the Borders.

Neil Dalgleish, the event’s director, said: “Although we’ve not had any detail or discussion with SBC yet, this sounds like very good news.

“Obviously we’re now very hopeful that there’s some kind of future for Tour O The Borders as a closed road event, but we need to be clear we have definitely not been given a green light at this stage.

“We’re looking forward to discussing next steps with SBC to find out what the road map for progress from here will look like.

“We’d like to see the event move forward while taking consideration of all views within the communities affected by it.”

The Scottish Borders Council survey, which was undertaken as part of a post-event evaluation exercise, received 597 responses.

The vast majority were from local residents and businesses, including in Peebles, Innerleithen and Ettrick and Yarrow valley areas.

Mr Dalgleish added: “It’s great to see such overwhelming support for the Tour and hopefully this will help finally settle the debate.

“Given how much the event has done to put the Borders on the map as a top road cycling destination and the number of new and repeat visitors to the area associated with the event, this response is what we were hoping for.

“It’s worth bearing in mind that our own survey on this attracted 1,400 positive responses, so the available data certainly feels robust now, but we’ll always be respectful of all the parties involved.”

Scottish Borders Council said it would now work with the event organisers, Hillside Outside, regarding future closed road cycling events in the area.

Councillor Scott Hamilton, executive member for business and community development, said: “This survey was specifically targeted at those residents and businesses most likely to be impacted by the Tour O The Borders closed road event in 2023 and I am pleased that so many took the time to complete it.

“We will continue to engage with the event organisers to support the continuation of the event on closed roads and encourage continued proactive engagement with those communities along the route as part of the event planning process.

“As with any event which results in road closures, it is important that the positive impacts, including on our local economy, are balanced against any disruption this causes to communities.”