THE chairman of Abergavenny and District Tourist Association has hit back at claims that the annual cycle race brought problems to town.

Jenny Taylor told The Chronicle, "On behalf of our members I would like to make comment as to the negative letters appearing in last week's issue of the Chronicle.

"Whilst we do appreciate that there was some disruption and indeed, some inconvenience to our local people, I ask you all to please look at the bigger picture." 

Mrs Taylor said the "highly prestigious event" raises the profile of Abergavenny "above the bar."

"The event brings so much publicity to our town and the spin offs are incalculable. We have to all appreciate that tourism is the mainstay of this town, bringing prosperity and employment. 

Surely the financial benefit this event brings is worth a few days worth of inconvenience? This is the third year of this highly successful event, notices were all over town, nobody should really have suffered had adequate forethought been given.

Far from being a 'chaotic fiasco'. this event was extremely well organised thanks to Bill Owen.

"As an accommodation provider I can personally vouch for the fact that both myself and many of our members who do not provide lunches or evening meals, were totally full and only too happy to send our visitors, competitors and their families into Town to eat, drink and be merry, thus they spent much needed revenue. Surely even inconvenienced locals can appreciate the need for tourism in this dire recession. Is it too much too ask for them to 'bite the bullet' for a few days? Thus ensuring employment, not just for now but for the future of our young people! Tourism revenue is vital. Please, please do try to see the necessity of any event which brings tourists to our town."