Eastern Lights

[chisam1]

MEDIA RELEASE

CANCELLATION OF
EASTERN LIGHTS MOTORCYCLE CAVALCADE
SUNDAY 26 JULY 2009

A shock last minute ruling by Norfolk Chief Constable has forced the cancellation of Eastern Lights motorcycle cavalcade, which was due to take place on Sunday 26 July.

Organisers were informed late on Friday 3 July, just three weeks before the event, by Norfolk Police that they would withdraw their cover for the cavalcade if a "Temporary road closure licence" was not obtained.

They then went on to say that such a licence would take 8 weeks for Norfolk County Council to process – which made it impossible to achieve.

The local authorities involved, including the Highways Agency, were unaware of this licence requirement and expressed their own surprise at such a decision by the Police.

Organising committee chairman Paul Howard said “It now is with regret that our event will have to be cancelled because it does not have a "Temporary road closure licence." I have been involved with this event for eight years and Norfolk Police have never before mentioned that such a licence is necessary for a moving cavalcade.

I've been told by my friends who organise "East coast truckers" that they too were only told of this requirement on Friday and they did just manage to apply for a licence within the 8 week limit.

I also understand from the Council that any successful application for this licence along our route would attract an initial standard fee £850 + individual fees for each road to be closed off.

Speaking to various people about this situation, all are appalled at the way this has been implemented without a period of grace before notice. To offer us a solution which is unachievable due to the time restraint is so unfair.

It should be noted that if this “new” requirement is implemented throughout the country there will be huge consequences for many other event and charity organisers. The major losers will inevitably be the beneficiaries of the fundraising activities like Eastern Lights who have raised over £45,000 in the past eight years for the James Paget University Hospital Accident & Emergency Unit.

We are so saddened that the thousands of people who line the route to watch this amazing spectacle and donate their money to the collectors and of course we are particularly sorry that the bikers who have taken part in the cavalcade and supported us so well over the years will be greatly disappointed that this event has come to an end.

On a positive note, organisers can now announce that they will be happy to see bikers who wish to travel independently to Royal Green, Lowestoft on Sunday 26 July for a free get together one last time. Gates will open at 10am until 5pm and there will be the usual refreshments and traders there. A "Rock band" will be playing at "Fishermans wharf" from 1400hrs and the "Honda powerboats" are racing so there are plenty of activities to entertain.

The organisers want to assure those riders who have paid and offered to donate their fee that this will be handed to the hospital. Those who wish to have their money back can apply by post to Eastern Lights, PO Box 6, Lowestoft, NR33 0LD enclosing a SAE and stating each name and address for which a refund is required. A refund form will also be available on the website Eastern Lights but it is not necessary to use the form, just to provide these details.

On Sunday 26 July at Royal Green, refunds will be offered to those applying in person. Proof of identity will be required.

Paul added that “we have sold 964 tickets to date to ride Eastern Lights at £10 per entry. We have expenses for insurances, various other licences, portable toilets, the list and costs is immense and we have traders who have pre paid to trade on the two sites at Norwich and Lowestoft. Local businesses around the Norwich and Lowestoft sites all benefit from the crowds of people we bring to the area on the day.

We have over 150 voluntary staff working as marshals, stewards, collectors, mechanics, cleaners and medical staff for our event on the day.

I and my committee of 8 have spent many hours working on this event and we are devastated by Norfolk’s Chief Constable’s decision”.



Sorry
Eastern Lights
Has Been
Cancelled

View Larger Map

Click HERE for
Refund Info

“We pledge to give every penny to the James Paget hospital for those
Eastern light riders who donate their ticket money”,
we are actively collecting for them still from now on and on the day.


A "rally" will take place at Royal Green on Sunday 26 July as a final get together, so that bikers can come along between 10am and 5pm - but that they travel independently and in accordance with normal safe riding on public roads.

[Baff]

Tossers - the police, I mean, of course.

[kimbo]

Wankers seems to me if you ride a motor bike you,re treated as social outcast by the authorities FECKERS

[gameybutcherboi]

funny that cos when i was outside cleaning my bike the woman whos kids louise looks after said "how dangerious it looked and it wasnt for her"maybe its cos this person is top brass in the cambridgeshire police