Agenda item

Members of Chorley Liaison will welcome Kevin Stewart, Managing Director and European Regional Director of IRONMAN who will be attending the meeting.

The Chair welcomed Kevin Stewart, Managing Director and European Regional Director of IRONMAN who attended the meeting to respond to issues raised by Parish and Town Councils about the annual event. 

Tabled at the meeting was a list of responses to the questionnaire circulated by the borough council to parish and town councils within the Chorley boundary, to ascertain how parish and town councils had been affected by the event as agreed at the last Chorley Liaison meeting in July.

Members of the Liaison received a summary of the history of the event and improvements that had taken place since 2011, which included –

·         Employment of professional stewards and a traffic management company, which had resulted in the reduction in the number of police personnel used

·         Extending the course, while reducing the number of laps from 3 to 2.  The effect of this has resulted in increased time laps between athletes and less delay for road users

·         Benefits to the local economy and wider economy was far reaching

During debate, members of the Liaison discussed various issues which included –

·         Access to residents

·         Consultation 

·         Traffic management issues

·         Consideration of an alternative route for the event

·         Loss of revenue to businesses situated where access was restricted

·         Signage to state businesses were open as usual

·         Spectators

·         Positive feedback from residents and parish councils

In response, Kevin Stuart informed the meeting that consultation had taken place with various interested parties which included Lancashire County Council as the highways authority and a number of parish councils.  All stewards were given a briefing note that was reflective of the location they had been allocated to cover and the number of race control where they can contact the organisers to seek clarification on issues that occur.  Contact had also been made with a number of organisations which offered care providers to vulnerable residents and passes had been issued.  However, it was acknowledged that at the last event there were reports that care providers were refused admission by marshals, and organisers were considering ways in which this could be overcome in the future.

Although IRONMAN was unable to compensate those businesses adversely affected by the competition on race day, it was developing a foundation which was in the process of applying for charitable status.  The foundation would allow the organisation to raise funds and distribute them within the local communities. 

A Good Spectators’ guide had also been developed and would be distributed to those watching the event.  The guide would provide clear guidance on what behaviour was considered acceptable and what was unacceptable which included dropping litter and excess noise.  It also asked spectators to consider if their behaviour was acceptability in context to their surroundings.  

Kevin Stewart welcomed the opportunity to meet with parish and town councils to discuss any concerns and how those concerns could be overcome.  However, it was clarified that the route would not be altered as it was felt that the current route was the best option, and that other options had been considered and ruled out for a variety of reasons.

The Chair thanked Kevin Stewart for attending the meeting and for his contribution.