Organisers accuse council of agenda against rally

A motorsport event held across Herefordshire and Gloucestershire has been cancelled after organisers accused a council of an "underlying agenda".

Cheltenham Motor Club said it had sent documentation to hold the Hill Ford Rally to both county councils in January and had received all the necessary permissions from Gloucestershire County Council as early as May.

But club chairperson Kevin Smith said: "Every time we get close to having a deadline from [Herefordshire Council] we get another question."

A Herefordshire Council spokesperson said: "There were a number of outstanding issues which still needed to be addressed by the event organisers."

They added: "We were unable to make a decision on the road closures until this information had been received for consideration."

Discussing the cancellation of the event, held annually in Ledbury, Mr Smith said: "There seems to be an underlying agenda to put a stop to it.

"They've had everything since January but every month they seem to come up with another question."

He added: "Herefordshire Council tell us they've had over 200 complaints about the event but they won't share any of those complaints with us.

"They're hiding behind the data protection act and things like that."

Cheltenham Motor Club has also claimed there have been nearly 400 messages of public support for the event.

Concluding a public statement on its website, the club said: "This is not goodbye.

"Cheltenham Motor Club remains committed to motorsport, in particular this event, and we look forward to returning with some exciting news in the near future."

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