Brighton’s 108-year tradition of holding Speed Trials along the famous seafront is under threat as the city council has chosen to axe the event.
The decision comes after a fatal accident in 2012 when Charlotte Tagg, a sidecar passenger participating in the Trials, was killed. The 2013 event was cancelled due to an ongoing inquest and report into her death, the results of which have since concluded that the club running the event, the Brighton and Hove Motor Club, was not responsible for the tragedy.
However, campaigners trying to save the event claim the decision is merely part of an anti-vehicle operation led by the Green Party, which runs Brighton and Hove City Council.
Hundreds of thousands of signatures have already been gathered by both motorsport fans and those who simply enjoy watching the historic trials. Brighton and Hove Motor Club have understandably voiced concern, noting ‘the Speed Trials have been running in Brighton since 1905 and are one of the highlights of the seafront entertainment calendar. Thousands of people come down for an entertaining fun-packed day out for the whole family to watch some of the UK’s best race cars and motor bikes compete.’
Join the petition
The environment committee for the city council will be discussing the next steps on January 23rd, the verdict of which will then be relayed back to the full council. This comes amid a call for yet more signatures, as links to the petition are being shared on both Facebook and Twitter.
If you want to join the campaign, you can sign the petition by visiting http://www.savebrightonspeedtrials.com/ or http://tinyurl.com/qjtbmub
