15/03/2011 02:37 PM
Security fencing will be part of crowd management measures during the annual Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling Festival in Gloucestershire as organisers battle to secure its future.
Last year, the event - in which brave souls fling themselves down the steep face in chase of cheese - was cancelled because of concerns over crowd safety. However, an unofficial event was staged.
This year festival organisers have moved to increase security measures and asked participants and spectators to pay to attend the event.
Security fencing will be put up to enclose the entire cheese-rolling area so that there is only access for ticket holders.
There will, however, be a free viewing area at an enclosed area at the bottom of Cooper's Hill, and there is a proposal to show the races on large screens.
The new pricing structure means adults will pay £20 per ticket, children aged five to 13 £15 per ticket, and those aged four and under will go free.
A total of 5,000 tickets per day are expected to be sold. Much of the funds will be spent on the security fencing.
Richard Jefferies, of the Cheese-Rolling Committee, said the event must change if it is to survive.
"It's important to stress once again that without imposing the extra health and safety measures, which all come at a considerable cost, the Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling Event will not go ahead and eventually the tradition would die," he said.
Last year, the event - in which brave souls fling themselves down the steep face in chase of cheese - was cancelled because of concerns over crowd safety. However, an unofficial event was staged.
This year festival organisers have moved to increase security measures and asked participants and spectators to pay to attend the event.
Security fencing will be put up to enclose the entire cheese-rolling area so that there is only access for ticket holders.
There will, however, be a free viewing area at an enclosed area at the bottom of Cooper's Hill, and there is a proposal to show the races on large screens.
The new pricing structure means adults will pay £20 per ticket, children aged five to 13 £15 per ticket, and those aged four and under will go free.
A total of 5,000 tickets per day are expected to be sold. Much of the funds will be spent on the security fencing.
Richard Jefferies, of the Cheese-Rolling Committee, said the event must change if it is to survive.
"It's important to stress once again that without imposing the extra health and safety measures, which all come at a considerable cost, the Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling Event will not go ahead and eventually the tradition would die," he said.
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