Health and safety kills off pancake race
THE bell has finally tolled for Ripon's traditional Shrove Tuesday pancake races amid a tangle of health and safety red tape and general indifference, according to organisers.
The expense of road closures and the mountain of risk assessments which must be carried out before children can take part has seen the event dropped after 11 years.
Dean of Ripon, and co-organiser of the event, the Very Rev Keith Jukes, admitted the event had become too expensive and too risky to hold.
"We have looked at this and there are a number of reasons it won't take place and a big reason sadly this year is health and safety," he said.
"Any organisation which runs an event has to go through a number of risk assessments. The insurance companies demand it and in the end you have to work out whether it's a risk you take.
"There is also the whole issue of road closures which can be an expensive business."
"lack of interest"
Fellow organiser, Coun Bernard Bateman agreed that the health and safety aspect had become a problem, but that wasn't the only reason.
"There seems to be a lack of interest in it too," said Coun Bateman, who helped former Dean John Methuen revive the ancient tradition 11 years ago.
"Finding volunteers to man the event on the day was just getting too difficult," he added.
The event had proved popular, with local schools and businesses entering teams to race along Kirkgate while tossing pancakes in tha air.
Pancake races in Bedale are to go ahead next Tuesday following an outcry over their cancellation. Organisers had cancelled because of the high costs involved in closing off the High Street, but have now agreed to run the event on an alternative route.
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Weather for Ripon
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 8 C to 21 C
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