Row as road race cancelled

COUNCIL REFUSES PERMISSION FOR LONG-STANDING EVENT ON SAFETY GROUNDS BUT ORGANISERS REJECT CLAIMS

- By OWEN HUGHES Chief Reporter

A POPULAR 10K race that has been staged for over 30 years has been cancelled amid a row between the organisers and a North Wales council. The Helena Tipping 10k - run in memory of a former runner was due to take place in Wrexham on September 14.

The 34th annual race organised by Run Cheshire was set to start at the Net World Sports site on Bryn Lane and finish at Isycoed Community Centre. But Wrexham council says “safety issues and concerns flagged up from previous events” had led to them refusing the race application in June. They said there had been “violations of highway legislation and unqualified volunteer marshals illegally moving cones and directing traffic”.

They added that a second application for a later date had been received but this clashed with major highways works on top of issues previously raised. The council “no longer support any sporting events being held at this location”.