Scottish Borders Council

Agenda item

Jim Clark Rally 2020 Public Consultation Process

Consider report by the Executive Director and Service Director Assets & Infrastructure (copy of report and appendices attached).

Minutes:

4.1       There had been circulated copies of a joint report by the Executive Director and Service Director Assets & Infrastructure, providing the Area Partnership and local community with an opportunity to consider and comment on the proposals submitted by event organisers of the Jim Clark Rally to hold a rally on closed roads in the Scottish Borders on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 May 2020.  Infrastructure Manager, Brian Young, was in attendance to highlight the main points of the report and to give a visual presentation of the proposed routes for the rally.  Also in attendance and representing the rally organisers were Chairman Professor Dan Wright, MBE, and PR Manager Frances Renton. Mr Young explained that revised legislation was introduced in 2019 to allow motor sports events to take place on closed public roads. These regulations introduced a two stage procedure where organisers must first successfully apply to an “authorised body” for a permit before applying to the local roads authority for a Motor Sports Order. In determining whether to make a Motor Sports Order Scottish Borders Council, as local roads authority, must consider a number of factors that were laid out in the regulations. This report outlined those factors and provided an opportunity to, in particular, examine the proposals submitted by the rally organisers in respect of the routes and timings for the rally on 30 and 31 May 2020.  The event organisers had, prior to submitting the application, been in consultation with representatives of Scottish Borders Council and Police Scotland though the established Safety Advisory Group (SAG) system that was in place at the Council. In order to satisfy the requirements to allow the views of the local community to be taken into account and that adequate arrangements had been made to involve local residents, the Council had launched a public consultation available online via https://scotborders.citizenspace.com/. The online consultation would run for 6 weeks. In addition to this, Council officers, along with representatives of the Jim Clark Rally, were attending meetings of the relevant Area Partnerships to discuss the event plan, including the proposed routes and timings. As for previous events the organisers of the Jim Clark Rally would be contacting separately those residents who were directly impacted by the routes. This would include individual visits to all properties in addition to letter drops. Organisers had also indicated that they would consult with / inform the community councils affected by the rally through meeting with them face to face. The intention of the Jim Clark Rally organisers was to be based in Duns and to run a total of 8 rally stages (over 4 different routes) on the Saturday and 6 rally stages (over 3 different routes) on the Sunday.  Within the Eildon area, Scott’s View, was one of the four routes being followed on the Saturday, with the loop being completed on two occasions during the day. The Jim Clark Rally was recognised as a major sporting event that brought significant economic benefit to the Scottish Borders. It attracted a high number of spectators, supporters, staff and competitors to the area; many of whom stayed a number of nights. Previous studies had estimated that the event contributed over £2.5 Million to the local economy. 

 

4.2    In the discussion that followed the economic benefit of the Jim Clark Rally was noted. In response to questions about the environmental impact of holding the rally, Professor Wright emphasised that the rally complied with all policies and regulations as set out by the governing body, Motorsport UK.  All information could be found on the Motorsport UK website where it was stated there was commitment to creating a sustainable and responsible model, primarily achieved through regulation. Consequently, in addition to compliance with the Road Traffic Act, technological features of the competitive cars were subject to a higher level of control than that required for other vehicles on the road. With regard to the options to use electric cars, Motorsport UK regulations did allow for the development of vehicles powered by alternative fuels but it was not possible to run rally cars at the moment without carbon fuel. Professor Wright added that he himself was involved in the development of high energy density batteries but in reality the technology was a long way away from the aspirations for widespread conversion to electric vehicles. In terms of the carbon footprint of vehicles used by visitors and spectators it was pointed out that this could not be controlled by rally organisers and was in fact a consideration for any major sporting event.  It was noted that the Scottish Government and Scottish Borders Council were extremely supportive of the rally in recognition of the economic contribution to the area.

 

DECISION

NOTED:-

 

(a)        the introduction of the new legislation and the application by organisers of the Jim Clark Rally to run an event on 30 and 31 May 2020; and

 

(b)       that comments on the proposal to run the event could be submitted through the public consultation available on the Scottish Borders Council website.

 

Supporting documents:

 

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