Pop-up accommodation and food stalls will be used to support the increased visitors and competitors at next year’s Enduro World Series, says the Dorset Council’s economic development of communications Neil Grose.
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The world-class event is expected to see up to 1500 spectators, 500 cyclists, 60 journalists and photographers, as Derby prepares to host a round of the Mountain Bikes Enduro World Series in April.
Earlier in August, The Examiner reported that a number of accommodation businesses were already fully booked out.
Mr Grose, who has been involved in on-the-ground organising for Enduro, said that home-stay accommodation was already booked out in Derby.
As a result, football grounds in Winnaleah and Branxholm will be opened up to campers.
“We might for example on the Derby cricket ground have a whole bunch of camper vans, portable shower block, portable toilet block, somewhere where people can socialise, so it’s like a mini village,” he said.
He said he’d been involved in securing accommodation for competitors, and Branxholm was almost fully booked out, while discussions were taking place in Scottsdale and Bridport.
“That will soak up pretty much all the professional teams that come. The next step to that is in January when the ballot for the rest of the riders takes place.
“There will probably be another 200 riders looking for accommodation in January,” he said.
He said community groups would be involved in providing breakfast for the campers.
Mr Grose said a forum will also be held in Derby for all North East businesses interested in catering to the increase in demand during the event.
“Essentially that will be up to them, but people from overseas, if they want to have a meal at 9 o’clock or 10 o’clock they’re going to logically expect to do that that week and we’ll assist any businesses in how they need to do that whether it’s compliance or licencing.”
Crank It Cafe owner Michelle Rowe said she was generally open until 8pm over the summer, but would be prepared to increase trading hours if necessary.