The Tour de France is obviously going to be a great event that will focus a lot of attention on the area.

But it is good to see that the prestigious sporting spectacle will not just be a flash in the pan and will have longer-lasting positive effects.

More than £200,000 will be spent on bringing major roads on the Tour de France route in Otley and Yeadon up to scratch, as well as some maintenance in other areas.

While we should perhaps not have to wait until a major international event comes to our streets to have our roads improved to a decent level, it is of course greatly welcomed to see this money set aside. Work is going to begin this summer and residents and road-users might well have to put up with some disruption while they continue, but ultimately it will all be worthwhile.

For the event itself, it is vital that the carriageways are in a suitable condition for the participants in the Tour de France and the footpaths are safe and secure for the spectators who will throng the route cheering on the cyclists.

This is yet another example of how we should be thankful that we are hosting the Tour de France and how it will have long-lasting benefits long after the last cyclist has crossed the finish line.