To think that the use of the police helicopter to monitor cheese rolling was a waste of money

[Ilovemyself]

Gloucestershire Police for the last few years have tried to stop the traditional Cheese Rolling event. The original organisers who worked closely with the police and authorities stopped running the event on 2010 because of the red tape involved.

Since then the event has been unofficially run.

This year there was a heavy police presence and the helicopter was used to monitor the event.

Am I being unreasonable to think that the use of the helicopter was a complete waste of tax payers money and completely over the top.

[Sparklingbrook]

It wasn't even cheese. YANBU.

[StealthPolarBear]

Yes it was edam waste of money

[WafflyVersatile]

Sue them for harassment!

[Ilovemyself]

I didn't even want to mention the police giving "advice" to the elderly cheese maker saying that she could be prosecuted if someone was hurt.

To use a foam cheese for health and safety was stupid.

[Southsearocks]

I was there. It cost far more to rescue the guy with the broken leg who was stuck on the hill for a few hours

I think we counted two ambulances, one fire engine, no end of paramedics and rescuing types. Hope he's feeling better now - I've never seen a foot face the wrong direction like that before

The police presence is OTT and daft.

[PseudoBadger]

I camembert wastage of public money. Was the event gouda?

[Ilovemyself]

It would cost a lot less for the medical cover if the authorities let the original organisers run it, as they had an excellent medical team that were trained to rescue from the hillside.

It meant that the fire service and police didn't need to get involved, and the county ambulance was only needed for transfers.

But the health and safety brigade had to get involved.

[PseudoBadger]

So how did the organisers justify allowing three times the safe capacity in previous years? 15000 in a venue acceptable for 5000?

[SoleSource]

Cheesed me off too.

[Ilovemyself]

The trouble was that there is no way of stopping that many people turning up. The organisers didn't charge admission and it was an open public space so anyone could go to that area.

I was there in 2009 and it was really packed but I had a great time.

I don't have all the answers, but I hate our traditions and quirks being legislated out of existence.

[Ilovemyself]

And please stop with the cheesy puns..........

[SoleSource]

Oh fick, i always wanted to go to the cheese rolling. It is ruined :(

[thecatcamebacktheverynextday]

Pseudobadger has it right - a venue of that size simply can't hold the amount of people that used to turn up. Nothing to do with health and safety 'spoiling it', it's just not controllable.

I seem to remember some issues around insurance with the official event which prompted it being cancelled.

[ConferencePear]

I don't see how they make a distinction between some dangerous traditions and others. The Ashbourne Shrovetide Football looks very dangerous to me but it doesn't seem to need heavy-handed policing. Perhaps someone could explain.

[Tee2072]

I have no idea what you people are talking about (I'm American...cheese rolling?!?!) but could they change the venue?

[PseudoBadger]

Conference I'm just in the middle of reading the HSE report into the 2009 cheese event. But as an interim response (my job involves ensuring/monitoring H&S at major events) take Rugby, Ski Jumping, Motor Racing as examples. These are all dangerous spectator sports. However the organisers take advice on how to make them as safe as possible for participants and spectators. They use ticketing to ensure venues are not overcrowding and demonstrate understanding of how large crowds work as a mass. Where there have been near misses and actual incidents they have been learned from and improvements put in place.

[claig]

'Yes it was edam waste of money'

Very funny, StealthPolarBear

[claig]

'I camembert wastage of public money. Was the event gouda?'

Gtreat stuff. Keep them coming!

[pinkballetflats]

I guess the weren't expecting it to go like a Brie-ze?

Bit of a waste of money though - a helicopter?

[NotYoMomma]

You should give them Roquefort

[Dahlen]

If something had gone wrong at the cheese rolling event, the police would have been held responsible for picking up the pieces and co-ordinating the response. The best way to keep tabs on what was going on was via police helicopter.

[claig]

The decision seems a bit em mental. Which big cheese gave the odour to launch the helicopter, was it Ric Otta?

[SoleSource]

Ooih lol

[Montybojangles]

If your dumb enough to throw yourself down a virtual precipice chasing a frigging cheese, that's your look out if you break something. don't get why it's become such a mission for the police to stop it.
Crowd control I can understand, scaring off the cheese maker is beyond me.

[thecatcamebacktheverynextday]