Road Race Consultation

The Road Races (Amendment) Bill was passed in the Assembly on the 10th December 2013

On Wednesday 10th July 2013 Roads Minister Danny Kennedy launched a public consultation on proposals to amend Road Racing legislation in Northern Ireland – The Public Consultation closed on 7th October 2013.

cheqflagWhile the Department for Regional Development has no responsibility for sporting policy or funding, it does facilitates road racing events by making road closing orders.

Following the cancellation due to severe weather conditions of this year’s Saturday Programme at the ‘International North West 200’ motor cycling race event, the second cancellation in three consecutive years, the Minister pledged to explore measures that would provide all road race event organisers with greater flexibility around road closures.

Danny Kennedy said: “Every year tens of thousands of people attend car and motor cycle road racing events across Northern Ireland. Motor sport significantly benefits our economy particularly in terms of tourism and support for local businesses.

“This is a cross-departmental issue and I have consulted with my Executive colleagues with responsibility in these areas and I welcome their support for the changes I am proposing.

“I have also taken the views of the ‘2 and 4 Wheel Motorsport Steering Group’ and other stakeholders into consideration in developing what I consider to be a realistic and balanced solution to the problems that our predictably unpredictable weather creates.

“It is entirely realistic that the new arrangements could be in place early next year in time for the 2014 Motor Sport season.”

The proposed change to the current road race legislation would mean that race promoters could, with the Department’s approval, bring forward or defer a race day or practice session where it is anticipated that bad weather might result in their cancellation.

The Minister continued: “There now exists a real opportunity for everyone to have their say about how we help address the impact that severe weather has on motor sport events on roads in Northern Ireland.

“I would encourage everyone to take a few minutes to read the public consultation document and express their views on this important issue.”

The Public Consultation closed on 7th October 2013 and can be found on the DRD website

The consultation documents are available in an accessible format such as Braille, audio format/ CD, minority ethnic language etc on request to RMPB@drdni.gov.uk or J G Anketell, Department for Regional Development, Transport Policy, Strategy and Legislation Division, Clarence Court, 10-18 Adelaide Street, Belfast, BT2 8GB. Phone: 028 9054 0525

Original Source – Department for Regional Development – Click Here

The Road Race Bill was passed in the Assembly on 10th December 2013 – Click Here

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  1. Northern Ireland Road Racing needs flexible road closures now

    Facebook page dedicated to road racing fans, that are sick of the politics involved in trying to give International Road Races more flexible road closing orders.
    It generates Tourism, The Economy, and community relations.
    This has been brought to the fore with this weeks cancellation due to the weather of the Dundrod 150 and now concerns about Saturday’s main Ulster Grand Prix meeting.
    Click Here

  2. International North West 200 – Public Consultation on Flexible Road Closing for Road Races in Northern Ireland

    some_text As you may know following the abandonment of racing at this year’s International North West 200, the Northern Ireland Government has opened a public consultation to amend the Bill for Road Races (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 to provide race organisers with flexibility to introduce contingency arrangements where racing or practice may be affected by bad weather.
    If passed, this would give the NW200 the flexibility to move a practice and race days either one day forward or one day back with 48 hours notice.
    This flexibility is the best contingency we can get to avoid racing being cancelled.
    We do however need your help to take part in the consultation and contact the Department for Regional Development (DRD) to voice your support for the changes to the legislation.
    We would ask that you request 24 hours notice instead of 48 hours suggested by the Department for Regional Development (DRD).
    It’s fairly easy to take part, you can either write to DRD at, Clarence Court , 10-18 Adelaide Street , Belfast , BT2 8GB; or email cmb@drdni.gov.uk or telephone 028 9054 0540.
    Full details of the consultation can be found on the DRD website at http://www.drdni.gov.uk/index/publications/publications-details.htm?docid=9008
    The consultation closes on the 7th October 2013 and we would greatly appreciate your support.
    Many thanks,
    Mervyn Whyte MBE
    Event Director
    International North West 200

  3. Latest On Road Race Consultation

    Kennedy – Significant public support for proposed changes in Road Racing laws
    9th October 2013
    Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy is set to proceed with a Bill that would change the law around road racing in Northern Ireland.
    Over 860 responses were received to the public consultation on the proposed changes. Overwhelmingly these supported changing the existing legislation to provide race organisers with some flexibility to change the date of their race day or practice sessions where they might otherwise have to be cancelled due to bad weather.
    Following unanimous cross party support voiced at a meeting of the Regional Development Committee today, Danny Kennedy said: “Events like the North West 200, Ulster Grand Prix Week and Circuit of Ireland have an enormous following both locally and internationally and they attract tens of thousands of visitors to Northern Ireland every year.
    “These events and many other similar motor sport meetings are weather dependent. Following the cancellation of the North West 200 in May this year, I made a firm undertaking to all road race organisers that I would examine the situation and work to provide a solution in time for the 2014 season.”
    The new arrangements could be in place for the 2014 road racing season as the Minister intends to seek Executive approval to progress the Bill quickly through the Assembly.
    The Minister continued: “While the vast majority of people who responded to the consultation were in favour of the changes, a minority expressed concerns about the potential for Sunday racing.
    “May I make it clear, the existing Road Races (NI) Order 1986 does not preclude Sunday racing, so the Bill does not seek to break any existing prohibition. It is for race promoters to decide whether they wish to race on a Sunday and to make the necessary application.”
    “The granting of permission to reschedule a race would only take place in circumstances, such as that experienced this year when heavy snow led to the cancellation of the Circuit of Ireland Easter Stages Rally and torrential rain led to the cancellation of the North West 200 and the Dundrod 150 motor cycle races.”
    The next stage in the process requires the Executive’s approval to introduce this single purpose Bill to the Assembly. Due process will allow the Assembly to debate the issue and decide if the Bill is to proceed.
    Original Source – Department for Regional Development – Click Here

  4. Road Race Bill Passed

    10th December 2013
    A Road Races (Amendment) Bill was passed in the Assembly today
    The Bill will introduce flexibility to help promoters of road races to reschedule races where they would otherwise have to be cancelled due to bad weather.
    Read more

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