Uk Racecourse Bans Picnics After Health And Safety Fears Voiced

Newcastle racecourse says that the regalia connected with the quintessential English picnic has become a trip hazard, and has subsequently prohibited it on the grounds of health and safety, triggering outrage amongst racegoers.

The UK Telegraph has published the announcement by a significant racecourse which brings in more than 20,000 racegoers to events, which has prohibited picnics for health and safety factors. Newcastle racecourse stated it was introducing the ban for all its 2015 fixtures, apart from one, following a number of problems at races last year. The venue's management group stated stopping racegoers from spreading out rugs and picnicking in chairs would alleviate activity around the racecourse and boost visitors' enjoyment. Racegoers will instead be supplied with a picnic site outside the racecourse, but within the actual estate. Executive director David Williamson stated... "We have actually taken the choice not to allow picnics or picnic furnishings into Newcastle Racecourse for all of our 2015 components, with the exception of The Blaydon Races in August, to guarantee the safety and enjoyment of all of our visitors, which is our number one concern."

At Ladies Day and Plate Day, which normally attract in excess of 20,000 visitors, a number of health and safety concerns were highlighted to the racecourse executive, who has said... "To guarantee the enjoyment of all those attending these popular fixtures, and for ease of activity around the racecourse, we have actually taken the choice not to allow picnics in any enclosure. This is not a choice that was made without thought, and we hope that this change will allow us to still provide an enjoyable experience for all of our visitors. In line with the modification in policy, more seated locations and additional food outlets will be readily available in both enclosures for visitors to make use of if they wish, and for those who want to have a picnic prior to coming into the racecourse we will have a designated location within the estate where picnics can be had."

Routine racegoer Sue Nicholson, from Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, was horrified when she found out about the policy change. She had planned to go to this year's Ladies Day; a focal point of the North East social calendar when racegoers of both sexes dress up, in a group of 12 buddies, but she will now cancel the trip. She added... "I particularly like getting dressed up, wearing silly shoes and a silly hat and going to Ladies Day. For the last two years I have actually attended with a group of about 12 buddies, and we have a great time. We take picnics and have a great deal of fun on the waterproof blanket, but after we found out about the picnic ban, we are not going."

she added... "The venue did not allow racegoers to bring their own alcohol in, so that was not part of the policy change. But racegoers dressed up in their finery might not wish to eat the sort of food offered by food outlets. You can take a picnic to Glyndebourne, you can take one to Ascot but you can't take a picnic to Newcastle Racecourse? Who do they think they are?" Mr Williamson stated picnickers' furnishings developed a "potential tripping hazard," which was the main reason for the ban, and not an attempt to make racegoers spend more in food concessions. He added... "The choice has been made purely for the convenience and safety of all racegoers. The quantity of racegoers generating chairs, rugs, picnic boxes, etc, caused space to be restricted for the number of racegoers attending the race days due to picnickers taking over. The added furnishings was a possible tripping hazard, and a couple of racegoers have been reported to emergency treatment because of this. People are under no obligation whatsoever to acquire food while in the racecourse grounds. For those who want to have a picnic blanket lunch prior to coming into the racecourse, we will have a designated location within the estate where picnics can be had if they so wish."

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