THE surprise cancellation of last weekend’s Velo South charity bike ride, blamed on a Met Office weather warning, presented a blow for the 15,000 cyclists signed up for the event, but delighted the many objectors.

But despite the threat of villagers taking to the streets in some areas in protest at the prospect of having to leave their homes for the whole day – or face being hemmed in with little or no access to their properties, the organisers have confirmed they intend to press ahead with the event in 2019.

It had already been a bumpy ride for the event organisers CSM Active and West Sussex County Council, which came under fire for agreeing road closures of up to nine hours, including the 286 at Fernhurst.

Residents protested the 100-mile closed road event would “effectively kettle a huge area of West Sussex” on September 23 if the day had gone ahead.

West Sussex CC saw off a last-ditch legal challenge by objectors 48 hours before the ride was due to take place.

But hours later CSM announced the ‘extremely disappointing news’ that the race had been cancelled due to the bad weather forecast.

A Velo South spokesman said: “We are determined to re-schedule the event for 2019 and we will work with our local authority and agency partners to try and identify an alternative date as quickly as we can.

“In the meantime, all participants will be entitled to a full refund of their event entry fees and car-parking fees.”

Protest group Stop Velo South, which was poised to hold all-day demonstrations on Sunday, stated: “We are relieved the race has been cancelled this year and will work to ensure it never comes back.

“Given West Sussex CC leader Louise Goldsmith’s alleged interest in transparency and consultation, we are calling for a meeting with her to discuss alternatives to Velo South.

“She’s stitched up residents and businesses once – she must not be allowed to do a deal behind closed doors a second time and wave through support for a VS19.”

Fernhurst Parish Council chairman Heather Bicknell sympathised with the riders but was relieved villagers had escaped an all-day ‘lockdown.’

She said: “I’m sure they are planning another one next year, I do hope they come up with a more sensible route and eight-hour road closures are far too long. It was all planned before we knew about it. Now we do know, we will be watching it very carefully.”

A West Sussex CC spokesman said: “We sympathise with those who have trained hard and raised money for charity and made many arrangements to attend, but obviously safety comes first in any large event.

“We will now reflect on the process and consider how we support the delivery of events like this in the future.

“We will be speaking with all local members and parish councils over the coming days and weeks to gather their feedback. It is still too early for us to comment as to whether we will support or be involved in large scale cycling events in 2019.”

While the 15,000 riders have been offered a full refund, some complained they will have been be left out of pocket over hotel cancellations.

CSM has also offered riders a free transfer to the sell-out Velo Birmingham and Midlands instead, or the option to donate their entry fees to Velo South’s four nominated charities.