Foot & Mouth Disease

[rallydriving]

For your info - the MSA released the following press release earlier today. It seems that rallying is going to be on hold in Britain for the foreseeable future. Whilst this is a major blow to all rally fans, and especially to the organising clubs who have already invested so much in their events, it is surely a small price to pay to help out the farmers, many of whom are extremely cooperative in allowing rallying to take place in the first place.

Press Release follows;

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FOOT & MOUTH DISEASE

This is to advise you that the national emergency has deteriorated
significantly since I wrote to you on Monday. You will be aware that many
more cases of foot & mouth infection have been confirmed and that they now
affect areas of the UK which were previously unaffected.

The Motor Sports Council therefore decided today (Wednesday 28 February)
that existing MSA Permits will be suspended with immediate effect and that
no new Permits will be issued until further notice in respect to the
following categories of event:

> Autotest (including Production Car Autotest)
> Autocross
> Rallycross (including 2CV and Minicross)
> Off Road (including Trial, Timed Trial, Tyro Trial, Safari, Team Recovery
and Point to Point)
> Road Rally (including Historic Road, Road Timed, Navigation, Navigation
Scatter and 12 Car)
> Special Stage Rally (not including Multi-Use)
> Historic Special Stage Rally (not including Multi-Use)
> Trial (including Classic Trial, Production Car Trial and Sporting Trial)

The above list is intended to halt all events using the public highway as
part of the competition, and to eliminate events which commonly take place
on or near agricultural land.

If local advice is not to run an event, MSA will not issue a Permit for that
event. It may therefore be necessary - due to local circumstances (such as a
request by a landowner, by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries & Food or
by any other appropriate authority) - for organisers to postpone or cancel
events which are not on the list above.

The continued running of events at permanent motor sport venues is under
active review. MSA will urgently discuss the situation with the venue owners
and make a further announcement in due course.

Event organisers may find helpful the following summary of existing national
access restrictions:

> Forest Enterprise - Some Forest Districts have already issued advice to
permit holders and members of the public,warning them not to enter woodlands
until the outbreak is over. Event organisers are warned that scheduled
events may have to be cancelled at short notice.

> Ministry of Defence - There will be no motor sport access to any military
property for the duration of the crisis.

> National Parks - Some National Parks have closed their roads to all
non-essential traffic for the duration of the crisis. It is important for
affected organisers to check with the relevant park authority.

> Royal Parks - There will be no motor sport access to any Royal Parks
property for the duration of the crisis. Organisers should note that not all
Royal Parks property is actually parkland and includes some roads.

> Rights of Way - The Government has given permission for local authorities
to deny access to many public rights of way (including footpaths and
bridleways) within infected areas. This may affect events in unexpected ways
and every organiser is urged to check with the local authority.

MSA will, of course, write to all motor clubs when it becomes appropriate to
accept applications for Permits in the listed categories. We will also
continue to contact clubs as the situation evolves.

Motor clubs whose officials have access to the Internet can always find our
latest information on the MSA website (www.msauk.org) - look for the
flashing "LATEST" logo.

Otherwise, the relevant executives at Motor Sports House will naturally be
available to assist or advise: simply telephone the MSA on 0175 376 5000
during office hours (Monday to Friday 09.30 to 17.00) and state the type of
event for which you need help.

Yours sincerely,

John Quenby,
Chief Executive,
Motor Sports Association.

[Neil Bye]

As long as it is not too long and motorsport is allowed to start as soon as other sports are allowed to re-start. I have heard mumblings of horse meetings still happening and yet all sorts of time delays for rallies. But I'm sure the MSa will make sure we get fair treatment from the MAFF and no favours for horse racing etc.

Have to go I'm on the 4.30am to Gatwick, Pinky and Perky airways, chocs away porkie.