Former TT boss fears over Marshals

Added on Saturday, February 13th, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments

The former chairman of the Isle of Man TT Marshals Association has claimed that the future of the race is at risk with the ending of a reciprocal health agreement between the island and the UK.

Bill Carden has claimed that volunteer marshals from the UK could be discouraged from attending future TTs if the cost of healthcare and insurance proves prohibitive, putting the event at risk.

At present, an agreement agrees between the governments of the UK and IOM that UK citizens can continue to access free healthcare in, and on their return from, the Isle of Man, with a similar agreement in place for Isle of Man citizens in the UK. That agreement comes to an end on 1 April 2010 and, as the IOM is not a member of the European Union, the European Health Insurance Card that allows UK citizens to access free health treatment in the EU is not recognised.

That has raised concerns for Carden, who believes that the TT may struggle to find the 508 marshals that it needs every year to man the 37.3 mile course.

“The TT races and Manx Grand Prix rely heavily on volunteer marshals making the journey to the island. A journey which is already expensive,” he told BBC Isle of Man.

“In 2010 we expect over 50% of the marshals to be from the UK or further afield.

“I don’t yet know exactly how much the travel insurance will cost but it all adds up and without these people there is no event.”

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