Westward Ho!

I know a lot of you on here do not read the front page is this is the latest news.

Westward Ho! and the mini have been a great combination over the past years but sadly this may be our last visit. Last year it was estimated that there was 2500 people in Westward Ho! to watch the Minis and Motorbikes leave.

We have never had any problems in Westward Ho! our marshals do a incredible job getting the cars on their way and the spectators who come along to watch are fantastic. No other event of that size would be without a police presence, so we are asking for our police specials back just in case.

The Grand Tour belongs to North Devon it is a community event, here, there and everywhere and it would not be the same if the minis did not travel in a convoy. So we would like help getting across Haywood roundabout. I watched the Lorry convoy go down the A39 with a police escort and saw 8000 motorbike travel down the A38 from Lee Mill into Plymouth.

I have been told that I must apply for a road closure licence to the Highways Authority for the A39, I can see that happening. I don’t think the Motorbikes or Lorries have to. The Police can still use the old Town Police Causes  Act of 1847 section 21 and they still do, when they what to. If they cannot give us help to get out of Westward Ho! then I will move the event away from Westward Ho! to somewhere else and Westward Ho! will be a very quiet place next year.

You are not looking for any special treatment but if they can escort 40 lorries along the A39 and escort 8000 motorbikes along the A38 both of which do not get road closures, why cannot they help as to get across Haywood roundabout.

Should ever the responsibility of so many spectators become so great for one person then I will have no option but to stop it altogether.

Don't do Facebook, I like some privacy but keep in touch what occurs. In the old days..... we had a petition. The shopkeepers of Westward Ho! would be the first to sign.

It would only take a couple of Policemen an hour to sort that roundabout but we're normally at the end of the convoy some 30 minutes later and it is beginning to get tense and there is one hell of a bottleneck. Maybe another start from the Park. Those keen to see the minis will turn up.

It won't be the same and Westward Ho! will begin to feel that quietness this year with the camping and related sales moving. Safety has to be paramount.

We have now limited the event to 250 Minis and we have lost car park B which should make thinks move better.

It would be a shame not to be in Westward Ho!, but, without help at the roundabout I can see the potential for there to be problems. I presume we've asked the Police for assistance, and it's been denied. What if we offered to pay for an hour's overtime? (Not to come out of CHSW coffers, if we helpers all put in a quid each, we'd cover it.) It does seem unfair, especially given the clearly well understood and appreciated help this is to the community.
As has been said, it would be Westward Ho's loss - do you think we should mention it to the Mayor and selected, friendly shopkeepers next Monday, to see if we can get a ground swell of opinion on our side? Oh, and it could be let slip to the press too!

R.

Quoted from richardjackson99

It would be a shame not to be in Westward Ho!, but, without help at the roundabout I can see the potential for there to be problems. I presume we've asked the Police for assistance, and it's been denied. What if we offered to pay for an hour's overtime? (Not to come out of CHSW coffers, if we helpers all put in a quid each, we'd cover it.) It does seem unfair, especially given the clearly well understood and appreciated help this is to the community.
As has been said, it would be Westward Ho's loss - do you think we should mention it to the Mayor and selected, friendly shopkeepers next Monday, to see if we can get a ground swell of opinion on our side? Oh, and it could be let slip to the press too!

R.

I have already written to both Bideford & Barnstaple police and they were not very happy. Bideford is going to ask their special if they would do it but as yet he has had no success. Their is no way anyone will help us get through the roundabout but I already knew that.

I also told them that if we do not get help I will move the event and if the locals traders and people want as back they can sort it out with with their councilors I am staying out of it. I love Westward Ho and it has been involved with the minis for a great many year I would hate to lose it as a start. I have already told them that we could afford the cost of a policeman for a couple of hours but they still would not close the roundabout.

It has already reached the papers and there will be more in next weeks just have to wait and see.

Quoted from Terry

It has already reached the papers

http://www.thisisnorthdevon.co.....-detail/article.html

Hi Terry sorry to hear your problems. Would it not be possible to get past Hayward best we can and regroup on the quiter Instow Road, like we do at Landkey, (I think thats the name). Perhaps exiting onto the A39 in smaller groups initially, as motorists would be more tolerable of letting say 50 minis out and then moving on , rather than 300 in one go. I know it splits the group initially but we are only on the A39 for very short while.

Just a suggestion, its just a shame to spoil things for one roundabout.

This seams crazy.
THe Police help us out by practically closing the road in Bideford when we leave the park.
Is this just because it's a major road?
I would imageine the shop keepers and local council may be able to pull things round - unless they really are a miserable bunch.

Quoted from LazyBones

http://www.thisisnorthdevon.co.....-detail/article.html

I sent them the same as I put on the front page of this web site but it didn't really read the same. Westward Ho has been good to us over the past 16 years and I would hate to desert them. They have already lost Potwolloping I think, the August Bank Holiday is one of the traders best days. Thats what events like this are for Benefit the community and raise money for a fantastic place.

We leave from a field who do we benefit.

I dont think splitting the run up helps. We leave from a public place filled with Children, dogs all sorts and the worse thing you can do is start shutting the minis along the prom, that would seriously effect my H&S

Just to let everyone know I do not have a problem, if I cannot get help to get across haywood roundabout this year I will not use westward ho again. I will leave the problem with the Traders and the Councilors, if they want us back they can do the work, not me I do enough and I hang my head out every time i sign my name  

Even more about it in this weeks Gazette should be a ful page on the minis and the LGT.