Issue - items at meetings - Marathon update - Tim Hutchings

Verbal update.

Tim Hutchings of the Grounded Events Company gave members a verbal update on their progress in staging the Marathon. Good progress was being made in areas such as:

·        signs were now up informing people about road closures on the day

·        the clearing up of Madeira Drive

·        skips had been secured to reduce littering and increase recycling

·        good parking arrangements set up at the University sites and Mill Road

·        a good working relationship with the railway network has meant that an extra 6 trains have been put on for people to get to the Marathon

·        working well with the police to ensure crowd control

·        a Heart FM stand and stilt walkers to both entertain spectators and pull them away from between the piers, which was the place most likely to become congested. Concerns about overcrowding in this area had made them reconsider having cinema screens outside the Odeon showing the runners

·        securing branding, and dressing the event, to create an atmosphere, including a tunnel for the runners to come through

·        mobilising over 1,500 marshals, the majority of them volunteers

It was anticipated that at least 30,000 people will come to watch the Marathon, or between 40,000-50,000 if it is sunny.  

Although there would be very large crowds in areas such as Jubilee Street and New Road, this should finish about 10.15am and the runners would be away from the city centre by 11.00am. There was a big buzz in running communities. A number of people involved in establishing a marathon in Liverpool this winter were coming to observe this event.

They have undertaken a table top exercise with agencies such as the police, the fire and ambulance services. This was chaired by Richard Hebbard,who was satisfied by the responses of them all. They were robustly positioned to cope with all that might come up.

In response to questions, Mr Hutchings told the Committee that while their income had been £700,000 they had spent £750,000 in order to make this a strong event. They were relying heavily on volunteers and so the job creation in the city had been minimal. However, they would be using significant levels of casual labour on the day.  It had been possible to increase staff numbers from 2 to 7 and hoped to have 12 in year 2.  However, they were using local suppliers where possible, and local agencies such as City Clean. This support for local businesses was appreciated by the Committee. 

Mr Hutchings emphasised the importance of sustainability when planning the event - from not having balloons released to influencing the choice of Skip Company. At Preston Park, skips would be signposted as being either for ‘bottles’ or ‘general waste’. The bottles would be recycled. This was vital as there would be up to 20,000 bottles used on the day (of which only 60% may get used).  Volunteers would work to ensure the most effective use of these bottles, including taking the tops off them for runners. 

The Committee heard that the event would commence at 9am with Steve Ovett. Danny Mills, a wheelchair athlete would have already started solo at 8.45am to ensure his safety and prevent blockages. There would be an international presence at the event, including runners from Kenya and the Himalayas. The expected winning time would be about 2hrs and 15mins. By 3pm the majority of runners would be finished, with 95% finished in 6 hours.

 It was anticipated that the roads would be closed until 4pm. Minibuses would be used to encourage slower runners to move to the pavement. A partially sighted runner was planning to complete the course in 2 days.  The roads would be closed progressively through 7 zones and by 8.00am the majority of the course would be closed. However, blue light crossings would remain for emergency services. It had been agreed with the Brighton and Hove Bus Company that St James Street would be re-opened by 11am.

Over 160,000 information booklets had been distributed in the city and they were working closely with Heart FM and the Argus. There was a Grounded Events website and information on the Bus Company’s website. They were aware that the event would attract complaints in this first year, which would be personally handled and were confident that these would reduce in future years.  The Committee felt that this was an important day for the city, hoped it became a regular event and were pleased to hear that 6 street parties were being held on the day.