| |
 Race leader Fabian Cancellara who won Saturday's Prologue time trail
|
Anne gets rough ride from tour
A PENSIONER claims she was confronted by “teenage vigilantes” in Whitehall who demanded to see identification as part of the Tour de France security crackdown.
Anne Ashley, 75, said the event – the first time the historic race had come to London – caused massive disruption and was outraged when two young stewards quizzed her for a “pass”.
She said: “I was walking along Horseguard’s Parade on Friday when two very young men in orange vests asked to see my pass. I live here for God’s sake. Why do I need a pass? I am an elderly lady – do I look like a terrorist?
She added: “I told them in very unladylike terms what I thought of the Tour de France.”
Mrs Ashley, who lives in the Peabody estate in Abbey Orchard Street, Victoria, said she had been seriously inconvenienced over the weekend with
letterboxes closed and traffic chaos.
She added: “I feel like challenging this curtailment of our liberties. I resent it. Hundreds of thousands came here. Now the Mayor says he wants the tour back another time. Well I hope he’s got his pass ready.”
The Tour de France could return to the UK within the next six years, London Mayor Ken Livingstone has said.
Organisers were keen to bring the race back to Britain after
successfully staging the opening day in London on Saturday.
It is estimated four million people came to the West End to watch Saturday’s prologue.
Mr Livingstone said: “I think realistically it would be five or six years. The organisers have said they are very pleased.”
Mr Livingstone added: “Last week we had two unexploded bombs, a Tube derailment on the Central line, Wimbledon and Live Earth and we still did this.”
Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, described the Grand Depart as a “significant success”.
|
 |
|
| |
| |
