Vale Royal AC - Senior Section

Please see below:

"CANCELLATION NOTICE - WHITLEY 10K - 3rd APRIL

Regrettably we had to make a decision at the end of last week to cancel

this year's 10k and Fun Run, as the cost of implementing recommendations

made by Cheshire West and Chester Council's Safety Advisory Group (SAG)

is prohibitively expensive. The recommendations in question relate to

closing to vehicular traffic, during the period of the race, the single

track lanes we use. This would involve us employing a Traffic Management

Company to erect closure and diversion signage and to supervise the

closures on the day, at considerable cost to us.

UK Athletic's insurers were asked to confirm insurance for the event (on

the basis of arrangements we have had in place to cover safety risks for

the past 28 years we have held our event), but declined to do so if the

SAG recommendations were not followed. During that time we have not had

a single safety incident, but evidently neither SAG nor the insurers

felt this had any bearing on the matter.

Whether the same position will apply to us for future years will depend

on how UKA are able to respond to the principle of closures/cost as this

must apply to many races throughout the country especially in rural

areas, and we are not the first race in Cheshire West to be cancelled as

a result of SAG input. UKA are aware of the position and did what they

could to try to persuade their insurers to cover us.

We are sorry you have been inconvenienced.

Clifford Straw for Whitley Village Hall Trustees. 15/03/2011"