Health and Safety Ban The Big Cheese,

another UK tradition stopped forever, daredevil competitors chase a 7lb wheel of Double Gloucester down the 200-yard incline in one of Britain's most eccentric traditions, but organisers have been forced to cancel this year's event because of health and safety fears, but strangely enough not for the competitors but the viewing public, it appears the local council can not cope with the spectators, this year's cheese-rolling was due to take place on May 31. But Richard Jefferies, of the event's organising committee, said: 'We have had to cancel on the advice of the police and local authorities,' Robin Hammond, of the Really Exciting Adventure Club, said: 'I do understand the issues about the crowd but wish that the local authorities had worked harder to ensure that we don't lose another part of our English culture to issues of crowd health and safety.' as one local resident commented, "Organisers claim the ancient May Bank Holiday event, held on Cooper's Hill in Brockworth, Gloucester, has become 'too popular' and that the local authorities 'couldn't cope'." I know this'll come like a bolt from the blue to the Local Authority (which WE pay for), but actually.................. it's your job to cope. That's what you take our taxes from us to do. Yes. Really. We are forced by you to pay you to cope. If you really are admitting that you can't cope with a few thousand people turning up to watch a centuries old tradition, on one pre-planned day each year, then for pities sake who dresses you in the mornings? well local resident absolutely spot on, there is also some concern for damage to local farm land, so why does not one farmer open a field and turn it to a car park? £10,00 a day to park the car, that will do nicely, oops I forgot, health and safety most probably would not let him do it, due to fears of the public walking to the event from his field and tripping over!