RESIDENTS and visitors are being urged to plan ahead for the weekend of July 5 and 6 as the Tour de France races through Wharfedale.

Bradford Council is encouraging local people to check road closures and live traffic details if they plan to travel over the weekend, as well as the latest information on car parks, and changes to local bus and train services.

Stage One of the race comes through Burley-in-Wharfedale, Ilkley and Addingham on Saturday July, 5 with the caravan of around 180 promotional vehicles due to enter the district at around 10.15am, ahead of the race itself.

Stage Two will go through Addingham, Silsden, Keighley, Cross Roads, Haworth and Oxenhope on Sunday 6 July, with the caravan due to enter the district at around 10.45am. The cyclists are expected to whiz through about two hours later.

Anyone with plans to travel over the weekend of July 5 and 6 is being urged to check out a new online map.

The website includes a live journey planner to help people work out how they will get to and from where they are watching the race, or how they will get around over the weekend.

There is also new information about train and bus timetables on the website at letour.yorkshire.com/travel.

Bradford Council has written to residents who live along the route of the Grand Depart to let them know about the road closures and any parking restrictions that apply to them.

Those who usually park on what is to be the the race route have been advised to move their cars to either other nearby on street parking or to residents only car parks that are being set up where needed.

The Council has also written to around 5,000 business owners to inform them of road closures and parking changes as well as encouraging them to consider what alternative arrangements they may need to make for deliveries and staff.

On Saturday July 5 the roads on the race route will be closed at 5.30am, and from 6.30am on Sunday July 6.

No vehicles will be allowed to drive on or across the race route after road closures are in place. People will, however, be able to walk and cycle on and across the race route up to 30 minutes before the promotional caravan comes through.

During the time that the roads are closed there will be no access for vehicles to properties either adjacent to or on the race route itself. This will also include streets connected to the route that can not be accessed from elsewhere.

Emergency services have been closely involved in the planning. Emergencies will be treated in the usual way, and the safety of residents and visitors will be a priority, says the Council.

Information about the Tour de France in the Bradford district can be found at www.bradford.gov.uk/tdf. Members of the public can also call Bradford Council on (01274) 431000 for details.