Anger at Knavesmire damage following Gunpowder Plod event (From York Press)
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Anger at Knavesmire damage following Gunpowder Plod event
9:56am Tuesday 11th December 2012 in News
By Mike Laycock, Chief reporter
The rutted grass on Knavesmire, which was the site of last month’s Gunpowder Plod
THE mess left behind on York’s Knavesmire after last month’s controversial Gunpowder Plod event has been blasted by a councillor.
Local Green Party leader Andy D’Agorne claimed the fireworks and race event itself on November 5 had been badly organised, but it had also left a messy and dangerous legacy in the area.
He said cranes which were used to remove temporary fencing had churned up the soft ground and made big holes in the Sustrans cycle track, close to the scene of a fatal accident several years ago involving York teenager Ruby Milnes.
Coun D’Agorne said emergency repairs had been carried out by City of York Council to fill the dangerous holes in the cycle track, but some of the rutted grass still remained.
He said he would now be pressing the authority to make sure the organisers of the event paid for the repair and restoration of the damage, after the parks dept budget had been used for the cycle track emergency repair work. He said he had put down a question about this to a Labour cabinet member at a council meeting to be held later this week.
He said: “Labour was so keen to fulfil their election pledge of a fireworks display they agreed to the Gunpowder Plod event organised by Rat Race being held on the Knavesmire with no rental charge.
“It seems unbelievable, but cranes were being manoeuvred in the dark on a cycle track in the very place where Ruby Milnes was killed by a lorry when cycling home from college three years ago.
“I have asked the council to investigate safety procedures for these events, but also to ensure the organisers pay for repairing the damage to the land at the appropriate time of year.”
Coun Sonja Crisp, City of York Council’s cabinet member for leisure, culture and tourism, said: “I can confirm that all costs will be met by the organisers, Rat Race. Given the weather since early November, the council will start the reinstatement work at an appropriate time to ensure that the land is returned to its previous high quality.”
Rat Race was unavailable for comment.
Comments(31)
pedalling paul
says...
10:07am Tue 11 Dec 12
dsom73
says...
10:17am Tue 11 Dec 12
bolero wrote:...then starting up again under a new name with the same directors....well, if the wheel can get away with it, why not eh?
Bets on `Rat Race` declaring bankrupcy?
Why not...
BKKYorkshireboy
says...
10:17am Tue 11 Dec 12
again
says...
10:30am Tue 11 Dec 12
BKKYorkshireboy wrote:I expect Guy Fawkes and Dick Turpin are having a laugh.
Doubt the will go bankrupt they refused to offer me any refund despite my complaint letters. A half price entry to their next event is all they will offer. Did anyone else have any joy with complaining and getting money back?
M.Lucas
says...
10:45am Tue 11 Dec 12
Cllr D'Agorne could have quite easily checked to see with the appropriate department whether the work was scheduled to be done. He could have asked Cllr Crisp whether Rat Race were going to pay for the work and she would have given him the answer.
That is what the job of a councillor should be, not running to the press making a fuss only for them to get a statement for the last paragraph to showing it's being.
IF the work doesn't get done or IF Rat Race don't pay for it, then go to the press and inform us.
So sick and tired of cllrs from ALL parties making a fuss through the media rather than getting on with the job.
Open for business
says...
11:59am Tue 11 Dec 12
M.Lucas
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12:09pm Tue 11 Dec 12
Open for business wrote:Pretty sure that I said IF the work doesn't get done or IF Rat Race don't pay then it becomes an actual story...
Interesting to see you believe Cllr Crisp is telling the truth. I suppose there is a first time for everything!
Please don't bring me into your personal attacks on a Councillor.
I find it very unlikely that a Cllr would be quite so explicit if there is no truth in the statement.
Setting it straight
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12:34pm Tue 11 Dec 12
Jackanory2
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12:44pm Tue 11 Dec 12
Jazzper
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1:10pm Tue 11 Dec 12
xtc
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1:31pm Tue 11 Dec 12
Gyspsy Power
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2:01pm Tue 11 Dec 12
Hollywood Star
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2:28pm Tue 11 Dec 12
myselby
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3:27pm Tue 11 Dec 12
Jiminy Cricket
says...
3:55pm Tue 11 Dec 12
Setting it straight wrote:You make an interesting point about Risk Assessments and Method Statements.
Has the councillor or anybody else actually looked at the photograph?????? How on earth can anybody be expected to re-instate ground in that state; it's underwater for goodness sake!! Surely the responsibility for making good will fall to whoever made the mess, perhaps Cllr Crisp should've asked that question by now??? Or is it too simple to expect those responsible to sort it out? As for the equipment running over the cycle tracks etc, in the dark, well that's basic schoolboy site safety neglegence. I'm sure their Risk Assessments and Method Statements submitted would have covered all this, who was responsible on site for making sure all these measures were implemented because they are as much to blame
I would like to know if the council's event officers, licensing officers and the members of the council run Safety Advisory Group actually viewed the risk assessments for this event?
If so, how come the police had to get involved on the night to remove people from the Knavesmire because the public were in danger of getting blown up by fireworks that had been laid out and left unprotected by fencing and security staff?
Also, how come cars were allowed to park and do three point turns in unlit areas where thousands of people were exiting through the main gate?
These are just two examples of serious failings that could have had fatal consequences.
The organisation of this event was woefully poor (they couldn't even organise the race properly and that's what Rat Race supposedly do day in, day out) but as I understand it council officers were meant to check everything was safe beforehand. Epic fail.
Who keeps a check on the people who are supposed to be doing the checking?
Can't the press do one of those freedom of information requests and get this all out in the open?
Jiminy Cricket
says...
3:56pm Tue 11 Dec 12
Gyspsy Power wrote:LOL!
Wasn't it this very newspaper that was saying what a fantastic event this was only a month ago???
Jiminy Cricket
says...
4:06pm Tue 11 Dec 12
Funny that, they had plenty to say beforehand - mainly BS about how great the event and the fireworks were going to be.
It'll be interesting to see if they have the audacity to try and rip people off with the plod mkII in 2013. Judging by the arrogance of Jim (it's all about) Mee in that so called apology video it wouldn't surprise me if they come back next year like nothing's wrong and no doubt Councillor Crisp will be crowing about how marvellous they are again.
chunks
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4:45pm Tue 11 Dec 12
I'm amazed that the organisers haven't already resolved the problem - although perhaps they're already too busy dealing with all the complaint letters!
Turpinette
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5:30pm Tue 11 Dec 12
typhoon75
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7:12pm Tue 11 Dec 12
Even if all the damage is close to the scene there is no need to report it as it has no bearing on the damage instead all the press is doing is raking up bad memories for her family.
again
says...
8:34pm Tue 11 Dec 12
chunks wrote:Me too. It's interesting how many commenters here just make political capitial out of this or simply haven't seen the damage but feel they have to say something even if it is complete baloney.
I'm pleased that some attention has been brought to this issue as it really is an absolute eyesore.
I'm amazed that the organisers haven't already resolved the problem - although perhaps they're already too busy dealing with all the complaint letters!
As regards the unfortunate cyclist, I would say it is relevant because for a time the cycle track was made dangerous through slippery mud on the downhill stretch. Also a large very hazardous pothole was made in it by the heavy vehicles that made the huge ruts in the grass. That has now been filled in.
bob the builder
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9:32pm Tue 11 Dec 12
bolero wrote:Are the odds on 'declaring' or 'declared'?
Bets on `Rat Race` declaring bankrupcy?
bob the builder
says...
9:34pm Tue 11 Dec 12
pedalling paul wrote:Given that the land is susceptible to flooding and therefore damage to the surfaces, any sensible landlord would insist on a deposit or evidence of appropriate insurance cover to cover reparation. However it's the council who only think about short term revenue, and hope the consequences befall the next administration (knowing full well it won't be them).
Couldn't help noticing last autumn, that the fairground and adjacent beer festival nearer the Mount Vale junction, also left a similar legacy.
ceebeelee
says...
9:52pm Tue 11 Dec 12
BKKYorkshireboy wrote:Nope, just got an email denying responsibility that they had done anything wrong. No refund at all. It still upsets me to think what my 3 year old daughter went through that evening and didn't even get to see the fireworks. They have no conscience at all, it's disgusting.
Doubt the will go bankrupt they refused to offer me any refund despite my complaint letters. A half price entry to their next event is all they will offer. Did anyone else have any joy with complaining and getting money back?
Annie71
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10:21pm Tue 11 Dec 12
Jiminy Cricket
says...
10:34pm Tue 11 Dec 12
Annie71 wrote:Yep, you're wrong! The damage being discussed here is on Bustardthorpe rather than the Knavesmire and it was all down to rip off rat race
Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought the muddy mess on the knavesmire was caused by the fairground and the very heavy rain we had!! That means it was like it before the farce we had on November 5th!!!! Bring back Clifford's tower! :)))
WayneCarr
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6:12am Wed 12 Dec 12
ceebeelee wrote:Rat Race really showed their true colours dealing with any complaints. All refunds were flatly refused and as you rightly say they denied any responsibility and believed they had organised a professionally good event. May I point out that "Professional" means that you get paid for something and not neccessarily that you are any good at it.
BKKYorkshireboy wrote:Nope, just got an email denying responsibility that they had done anything wrong. No refund at all. It still upsets me to think what my 3 year old daughter went through that evening and didn't even get to see the fireworks. They have no conscience at all, it's disgusting.
Doubt the will go bankrupt they refused to offer me any refund despite my complaint letters. A half price entry to their next event is all they will offer. Did anyone else have any joy with complaining and getting money back?
I sincerely hope people do not have short memories and remember this farce when it no doubt reappears next year. In my opinion Jim Mee seems to be an uncompromising individual who fails to see any reason and does not know the meaning of customer care. I agree with the councillor in highlighting this to all, as no doubt RR would try to get out of all responsibility for that as well as the so called 'Event'.
lezyork1966
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12:20pm Wed 12 Dec 12
kemper
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6:35pm Wed 12 Dec 12
pedalling paul wrote:at least the showmen pay rent and a deposit for ground damage unlike others?
Couldn't help noticing last autumn, that the fairground and adjacent beer festival nearer the Mount Vale junction, also left a similar legacy.
the racecourse was flooded on purpose that night with no notification to the showmen
Magicman!
says...
3:24am Fri 14 Dec 12
bolero says...
10:05am Tue 11 Dec 12