10k race cancelled after single safety complaint

The race was due to take place in Wrexham on 14 September

An annual running event held for more than 30 years has been cancelled by the council over "safety concerns" following one complaint, the organisers have said.

The Helena Tipping 10k was due to take place in Wrexham on 14 September, but the council said applications to hold the event had been refused due to "safety issues and concerns flagged up from previous events".

Michael Harrington, director of Run Cheshire and Gogledd Cymru, said he submitted a Freedom of Information request in response and found one complaint had been submitted.

Mr Harrington also said safety concerns have been addressed, while the council said public safety was "paramount".

The event, held in memory of a former Wrexham Athletic club member, starts at Networld Sports on the Wrexham industrial estate and finishes at Isycoed community centre.

Mr Harrington said an issue was first highlighted in February after the annual Village Bakery Wrexham half marathon - also organised by the company in the same area - when he said he was told by the council there had been so many complaints it could no longer support future events.

Mr Harrington said he then submitted an FOI request after failing to get a response from the council regarding the nature of the complaints.

He said in spite of challenging the council's decision, it had "stuck to its guns".

"[The council] are absolutely not allowing any sporting events in that area," he said, adding the 650 people registered to run later this month would be getting refunds.

But he said the decision was a "huge disappointment" to all those who had been training for the event, and said it called into question whether next year's half marathon would go ahead.

He added over the years the organisers had "bent over backwards" to accommodate residents, and had "adjusted the routes to make it less intrusive", as well as making donations to local school and charities.

"There's a health crisis, an obesity crisis. These events are only positive. If people can't put up with a bit of disruption, it's pretty sad."

Terry Evans, from Wrexham council, said in a statement the environment department had been "clear" and had given as much notice as possible to the race organisers about their applications being refused "due to safety issues and concerns flagged up from previous events" they had organised.

This included violations of highway legislation and unqualified volunteer marshals illegally moving cones and directing traffic, the local authority said.

He added the council first notified the organiser their application was refused in June of this year.

"A second application was received to run the race at a later date but on top of the existing concerns there would also be major highways works in the location with diversion routes clashing with those that were submitted for the race," he said.

"We would not allow two sets of traffic management is such close proximity.

"As well as the above issues we also had concerns raised from residents, community council and the local ward member in regards to the event taking place.

"The event organisers have been informed that they do not have permission to place any traffic management on our highway. There is no option to reschedule the event, and we no longer support any sporting events being held at this location."

Mr Evans added the council understood the decision was "disappointing" for those who had trained for the race, but said public safety was "paramount and the event would not have come up to the standards we would require for it to go ahead".