Hopes high for Shrewsbury Toy Run return
Friday 14th October 2011, 2:13PM BST.
Organisers of the annual Shrewsbury Toy Run are hopeful the charity event will go ahead in December following talks with police. The MCC Rainbringers said they were axing the toy run earlier this month.
They cited concerns about whether the police had the resources to support it.
Andy Evans, a spokesman for the event which sees hundreds of bikers deliver Christmas gifts to children at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, as well as to those at Severndale School and children’s residential care home Bradbury House, said a misunderstanding had led to the cancellation.
“There has been confusion from both halves. The Rainbringers in no way blame the police for the cancellation of the event. The event was cancelled because we need the authority to stop traffic,” he said.
Mr Evans said that following a meeting with West Mercia Police, it had been established the toy run could go ahead with the MCC Rainbringers doing their own marshalling.
“We have to speak to the Highways Department before a decision is made. Hopefully, the toy run will be taking place,” he added.
Chief Inspector Martin Whitelegg said the police had not asked the organisers to cancel the event. He said: “There appears to have been a misunderstanding which is now resolved. The organisers are prepared to take responsibility for the safe running and proper marshalling of the event.
“From the police point of view, there is no reason why the toy run can’t go ahead and, hopefully, it will take place in December.”
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“Andy Evans, a spokesman for the event … [said] … The event was cancelled because we need the authority to stop traffic”
Why the need to stop traffic, to disrupt the journeys of other road users?
Funeral cortèges across the country, on a daily basis, seem able to operate within the various Road Traffic regulations. Why cannot this cortège?
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C’mon Sam, If you can’t be charitable at christmas, what can be said. Whats wrong with stopping traffic for a few hours for the benefit of the kids and bringing the community together. Sometimes you get fed up with hearing “whats in it for me” or “as long as i’m alright Jack”.
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I don’t think that the kids benefit through traffic being disrupted. Surely they benefit through delivery of the charitable gifts – which can get to their destination without disrupting traffic.
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@1—Sam, you’re quite right. Having sadly been part of one such cortege recently, I can give you the reason for this. We came from Wellington down the A5 to Preston island. When the hearse crossed the white line, any traffic on the island stopped. A sign of respect, and they were willing to sacrifice a few moments of their journey for this.
Would it matter if a few drivers lost a couple of minutes from their travel time for a charity run such as this? Are their journeys that vital that 2 minutes would totally disrupt their schedule?
All it needs is for Mr. average motorist to sit there for while these guys go across, no hardship, but, there again, the way some people drive, you’d think they were competing with Vettel.
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I don’t think that many, if any, would mind a few minutes delay, Colin. But BamBam, in post #1, spoke of “… stopping traffic for a few hours”.
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No prob Andy. Permission granted, way to go lads.
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