Weymouth Ironman triathlon: Bid to avoid disruption

About 2,700 competitors took part in the Ironman event in Weymouth in September.

Organisers of a triathlon that resulted in traffic "mayhem" have met councillors to discuss ways of preventing future problems.

Dorset County Council received more than 80 complaints after road closures caused delays and confusion during the September contest.

Ironman UK bosses told the "call to account" meeting that issues raised were being addressed.

About 2,700 competitors took part in the Weymouth event.

The competition - which included 70.3-mile (113.2km) and 140.6-mile (226.3km) routes - involved a swim in Weymouth bay, a run through the town and a cycle race through rural west Dorset.

The longer of the two races has already been dropped for 2017 after drivers reported taking up to three hours to make a four-mile journey between Weymouth and Dorchester.

A council report made five recommendations to be considered by the cabinet in January:

• Produce a memorandum of understanding by February detailing responsibilities of all parties

• Hold a post-event evaluation within a month

• Organisers to produce a communication plan, detailing how they will consult with local councils

• Ensure the Ironman hotline, the county's traffic control centre and event control centre work together

• Conduct a general review of legal and practical practices and training

Ironman race director Alec Rose said: "We need to develop more robust communications. Traffic management did not go as planned so we have been working with highways and police."

He said two companies providing marshals had pulled out 10 days before the event, leaving another provider to make up the numbers at short notice.

He said dropping the 140.6-mile race would mean roads could begin reopening from 10:15 BST.

A council report estimated the economic benefit of the event to the county was £1.1m, while the benefit to the rural economy was about £186,000.