Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling deemed 'unsafe' but won't be stopped
Concerns have been raised by Tewkesbury's Safety Advisory Group
The traditional Cheese Rolling event at Gloucestershire's Cooper's Hill has been deemed 'unsafe' by a local group - but there are no plans to stop the event from taking place.
This year's contest is due to take place on Monday (Bank Holiday 26th May) and normally attracts thousands of people to the site near Brockworth.
But the Tewkesbury Borough Safety Advisory Group (SAG) has raised concerns over public safety, particularly about how emergency services would be able to respond if there was a major incident with multiple casualties.
In a statement, Tewkesbury Borough Council’s Lead Member for Environmental Services, Councillor Murray Stewart, said: “The cheese rolling at Cooper’s Hill is a unique tradition in our county and we have no desire to stop it.
“However, as the event does not have an official organiser, the relevant documentation and plans detailing how members of the public will be kept safe, has not been submitted.
“The Safety Advisory Group has been left with no alternative other than to declare the event unsafe and has a duty to share this with the public.
“We are advising those planning to attend or participate in the cheese rolling to consider the risks they might be putting themselves in.”
The SAG consists of agencies, including the emergency services, who work together to promote high levels of safety and welfare at events by giving advice and guidance.
Members have asked for additional information to help them understand the plans for the event and how issues around traffic and parking on the day will be dealt with ,as is standard for large public events.
But the event doesn't have an official organiser, so the relevant documentation and plans detailing how they will keep members of the public safe, has not been submitted.
The Safety Advisory Group has warned that at previous cheese rolling events, several people have suffered medical episodes and injuries which required emergency treatment by paramedics.
The scale of the crowds has then meant ambulances and rapid response vehicles have struggled to gain access to the site for a prolonged period of time.
There are fears the event will 'put a strain' on Gloucestershire Constabulary, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, and Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service as a result.