A garage owner has demanded that he be compensated for the business he will lose when the Tour de France arrives in Redbridge next month.

Steve Moran, 49, says the race could cost his business – Westside Motors on Woodford Green High Road – between £3,000 and £5,000 when it passes along the main road on July 7.

Mr Moran, of Loughton, said: “Apparently there’s going to be no cars. What I want to know is what sort of compensation plan [there is] in place.

“It’s going to affect all the businesses in the area.”

“I understand there’s about a £6million slush fund. We should get compensation. If I don’t pay my rates that day, I’d get sued.”

Redbridge Chamber of Commerce said the race, which will see the high street closed between 10am and 6pm, would be a huge benefit to local businesses in the area and “do more good than harm” overall.

The event is expected to be particularly lucrative for pubs and cafés as hundreds of spectators descend on the High Road.

Mike Crocker, vice chairman of Redbridge Chamber of Commerce, said: “We’ll have lots of people coming into the borough and maybe they’ll come back. It will do more good than harm.”

Transport for London is the government body responsible for handling disruption caused by the race, which begins in Leeds on July 5 and is in its 101st year.

Garrett Emmerson, chief operating officer of surface transport for TfL, added: “The Tour de France’s return will boost the UK economy by more than £100m.

“Although no compensation will be paid, an extensive programme of public engagement around the event is underway to help businesses and the public plan ahead.”

TfL is holding a drop-in session on June 18 where people will be able to ask questions about how the race may affect them at Woodford Methodist Church on Derby Road between 4.30pm and 7.30pm.

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