The
Facts, The Organisation, The Complete Story
2009
Was The Last "Official" Event
The
Organization of the event up to the disbanding of the organizing committee of
the Cheese Rolling at Cooper’s Hill the Spring of 2011
Following
the 2009 Police report that an estimated 15,000 people were trying to
get to the event, it was clear that things would have to change.
It
is estimated that the hill can only accommodate about 5000 & a report for
the HSE confirmed this was the estimated number attending at Cooper’s hill in
2009.
In
2009 a report was prepared for the Health &
Safety Executive by Professor Chris Kemp Teresa Moore of the
Buckinghamshire New University entitled "A Review of the management of crowd
safety at outdoor street/special events" containing
a study of the organization and running of the Cheese-Rolling at Cooper’s
Hill.
This report praised the organisation of the Cheese Rolling at Coopers Hill.
Special mention was made, regarding the important advice given to the public at
in general by this web site (www.cheese-rolling.co.uk), information that was not
made available in concise form elsewhere, specifically relating to the unique
circumstances surrounding this event and the location at Cooper’s Hill.
This
report confirmed that the estimated number of people attending the event was
5000, the hill being full to capacity.
The organisation and events prior and leading to
the final cancellation in 2011.
‘The
Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling and Wake’ has always been organized and run
by a group of volunteers, most of whom live on the Hill.
Their tasks have
been:
- Clearing
the slope (cutting back new growth, removing hazards etc.) over several
week-ends
- Procuring
fencing (orange sheep-fencing for crowd safety and ‘Heras’ fencing to
protect properties) and erecting it all
- Employing
St. John Ambulance personnel (whose services are absolutely essential for
the event)
- Liaising
with SARAID (the rescue team necessary for retrieving casualties from the
slope)
- Employing
a security company (to act as marshals for public safety)
- Arranging
insurance (for ‘Public Liability’, not runners)
- Buying
cheeses
- Inviting
guest ‘Rollers’
- Producing
and printing certificates and programmes
- Arranging
and managing car-parking (until very recently providing the only income)
- Holding
countless TV, video and radio interviews
- In
latter years, providing Media Passes (another help for the income and to
control the huge numbers who want access both to organizers through the
preceding week and to priority ‘spots’ on the slope on the day)
- Hiring
and manning a PA system
- Organising
a group of volunteer ‘catchers’ (to catch runners at the foot of the
hill)
After 2009, the small group of volunteers, who
formed the organizing committee, was faced with various demands from the
insurance company, police and local authorities.
- The
insurance company required a ‘defined area’ for the attending public
to validate any insurance.
- The
local authority and police required a traffic and parking plan, to control
the number of vehicles arriving.
- Local
Authorities concern over the increasing numbers of visitors.
- Insurance
For
‘Public Liability’ cover:
- The
public viewing area was ‘a disaster waiting to happen’! There would
have to be a ‘defined, fenced area’ which would control the number of
people on the hill
- A
huge amount of fencing would be needed, and professionally erected
- There
would have to be designated entrances to enable the numbers to be
controlled, so the event
would have to become ‘ticketed’
- Traffic
The
local authority and police required a ‘Traffic Plan’ involving road
closures and traffic control
- Local
Authorities
Various
local authorities expressed their concern about the safety of the huge crowds
that were attending
Several meetings
were held with all interested parties to try to find a way forward but
unfortunately there was not time to sort things out for 2010, so the official
event for that year was cancelled.
Reluctantly,
it was decided that professional help was needed. Until then, the only income
had been from the £5-per-car car park, and more recently media pass charges,
and what was now needed was going to cost a great deal more.
- An
‘Events Management’ company was consulted
- A
‘Marketing’ company was also called upon to help raise sponsorship.
- The
local authority was asked to draw up a ‘Traffic Plan’
Somehow, the
number of people coming had to be controlled, and so it was proposed that the
event should be spread over a whole week-end, with the traditional races being
held on Saturday morning and afternoon, and again on Sunday. This would mean
possibly 20 races in all.
The
‘defined’ area and entrances required would need a huge amount of fencing
and marshalling, so it would also be necessary to make it a ‘ticketed’
event, with tickets available in advance.
Extra fields
would be provided for parking.
It was proposed
to change the date of the event from the ‘Spring Bank Holiday’ to the
original Whitsun weekend. This could have reduced costs of policing and any
other manpower, by avoiding the Bank Holiday.
Suggested plans
were for over-night camping, a mini ‘folk’ style festival, activities for
children and a revival of some of the ancient ‘Wake’ activities.
There would be
catering facilities provided as well as stalls and other attractions.
All this would
help towards the enormous costs now involved.
Some sponsorship
had been promised, from local businesses as well as National Companies.
Unfortunately,
following public consultation, the volunteers were suddenly faced with local
opposition to the plans.
Some residents
were unhappy with what had been suggested and strongly opposed the camping as
well as the mini-festival and the catering plans.
So a
‘scaled-down’ event was proposed; no camping, no mini-festival and no
catering.
As a result,
there would have to be a charge of £20 for each person attending, although
children would be free. It was also hoped that a number of free tickets would
be available for local people.
The public
outcry that followed was understandable. An event that local people had been
coming to for generations was now going to be out of reach for many.
There were
threats and abuse towards the volunteer organizers, who really weren’t happy
to make any charge.
So sadly, and
with very great regret, the people who had worked for so many years to keep
the ‘Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling and Wake’ going decided to withdraw
from the organization of the ancient event and are no longer involved.
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