Cheese rolling cancelled
FANS are hoping to save Gloucestershire's cheese rolling event – despite yesterday's announcement that it has been cancelled this year.
Cheese rolling enthusiasts from around the world last night reacted with dismay after the decision to shelve the popular event due to health and safety issues.
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"a big loss": Diana Smart, maker of the cheese rolling cheese.
It follows concerns from police and councils about safety on Cooper's Hill, near Brockworth, where the event is held.
Organisers have vowed that the event will return in 2011, but it will more than likely be ticketed to keep a cap on spiralling spectator numbers.
Richard Jefferies, of the organising committee, said: ""Last year 15,000 spectators came to the event, by far the most we have ever seen, and we just could not cope.
"Local landowners were also worried by the amount of damage done by people climbing over fences and that sort of thing."
The event was scheduled for May 31.
Inspector Stephen Norris, of Gloucestershire Constabulary, said: "The organisers of the event, the Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling Committee (CHCRC), have an obligation to ensure the safety of those attending."
Diana Smart, of Smart Traditional Gloucester Cheese in Churcham, which makes the cheese, was devastated to hear the event was off this year.
She said: "I think it is dreadful. The cheese has been made for it, it was made before Christmas and now it's just sat there.
"It makes you wonder if other traditional events like the wool sack racing and the shin kicking will also be cancelled.
"It is a big loss for the area but hopefully it will return next year."
Gloucestershire County and Tewkesbury Borough Councillor Mike Collins (Lib Dem, Brockworth), said organisers had made the right move. He said: "I'm incredibly disappointed the event has been cancelled, but I think it was the right decision.
"It's gone from being a community event to an international phenomenon, and there just isn't room for that number of people on the hill.
"I think it is a sensible decision, and they are going to have to do a lot of talking to sort out the problems."
He added residents had raised concerns that the cancellation of the event might lead to "impromptu, unofficial races", without the protection of organisers and ambulance personnel.
County councillor Mark Hawthorne, cabinet member for regeneration, is trying to ensure that the event does go ahead.
He said: "The cheese rolling is a great Gloucestershire event that brings thousands of visitors in to the county. I am really disappointed to hear about the cancellation, which had nothing to do with the county council.
"I have been told that the event was cancelled by the organisers following a problem with their insurers. I'm going to get in touch with them to see if there's anything we can do to help get this great Gloucestershire event back on track.
"Cheese rolling has been going on for hundreds of years and we must ensure that this great tradition continues."
The organisers of the event released a statement yesterday morning through their website.
It said: "The attendance at the event has far outgrown the location where it has traditionally been held for several hundred years: last year more than 15,000 people tried to attend (according to official estimates) which is more than three times the capacity of the site.
"The event will be back, in a revised form, in 2011."
23 Comments
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by Mary S, Chelts
Monday, March 15 2010, 9:49AM
“Actually, Ollie Day, Insurance isn't Health & Safety. Totally different, as anyone who works in either field will tell you.
Sounds like the organisers knew full well about the kinds of problems they had last year and instead of attempting to make any changes so the cheese roll could go ahead (crowd control anyone?) they ignored it so they can use the lame excuse of 'elf n safety gone maaaaaad'. Let's hope they buck their ideas up for next year so it can go ahead :)”
by Cheddar, Stilton
Monday, March 15 2010, 12:19AM
“Ollie
I said I saw people walking down the motorway because I did - I drove past them. I never said they parked - maybe they left the driver behind. But people were definitely walking along the M5.”
by Big Ron, Gloucester
Sunday, March 14 2010, 8:08PM
“A few too many Daily Mail readers on here having a rant about 'Health & safety', rather than knowing the facts. If anything gets the Mial lot going, it's Health and Safety (I can just hear them all now saying "political correctness gone mad" etc etc). You'll all be blaming the immigrants next!”
by Ollie Day, Glos
Sunday, March 14 2010, 6:09PM
“It was in the national papers under 'elf 'n' safety', so it must be so!
Where does it say they were parking on the motorway, surely no-one's THAT thick?
And I don't care what anyone says, if the committee have to cancel because of insurance probs, then THAT IS H&S.
We have become conditioned by the ambulance chasers, that EVERYTHING is claimable.
Well, I'm getting stressed now, just thinking about it.
Now where's that nice man who fell off 'the wrong ladder'!!!!”
by Marilyn Bolger, Canada
Sunday, March 14 2010, 11:10AM
“Have you all gone mad over there???? Leave British customs alone.”
by Doris Smith, GloucestershÃré
Saturday, March 13 2010, 9:28PM
“" Health & Safety "... Has it ever been safe or healthy? lol”
by anon, gloucester
Saturday, March 13 2010, 9:07PM
“I am elderley and I used to go with my parents to see this on Bank Holiday Monday the only reason it is popular because nothing else goes on around this City. Now the Tall Ships cancelled which would be ideal for the new Quays but the powers that be are trying to destroy that. Who will be the loosers when half the Quays are empty?”
by Peter Watts, Selles sur Cher Loire Valley France
Saturday, March 13 2010, 6:15PM
“I am currently trying to TWIN our town with NEWENT and was thinking of bringing a group of 8 French over to the cheese rolling.
English in France since 1970 I8 think Britain is really catching the French style red tape. You can't take a birthday cake to school in France. Birthdays are celebrated in primary schools once a week with a state made cake.
I didn't know the British were catching the disease and for once it's not Brussells fault It's a Anglo British problem”
by Stilton, Cheddar
Saturday, March 13 2010, 3:40PM
“Mark, Barney
You've read the article, right? You know it's not the event, it's traffic, right? So nothing to do with rugby, conkers or any of the other stuff you were ranting about?
If you want more information, you could try actually reading what's written as itlooks like you're just having a big old kneejerk rant at the headline.
Once again - throwing yourself down the hill, fine. Parking on the motorway and damaging people's property so you can go and watch - a flaming menace.”
by Giovanni, Gloucester
Saturday, March 13 2010, 3:35PM
“This is an annual event!
The committee have had 10 months to get this organised, yet have failed in their efforts.
They say the next 14 months will enable the 2011 festival to go ahead, current experience suggests this may well be over optimistic.
The committee do really well for the event and their efforts are in the main unappreciated, but it does the committee no credit for induividual menbers to complain how onerous the task is and that they do this work unnpaid. Nobody forces any individual to join the committee.
Now is the time for the committee to bring in proffessional organisers who have experience of staging major events and the ensuing large crowds. They have already received several orrers! This event is small compared to the large football matches and the forthcomming olympics in 2012.
Finally I do sincerely hope that the organisers buy the cheeses from Diane Smart, she should not have to suffer the financial loss resulting from the cdecision to cancel the event!”