Concerns raised over Newbury Racecourse traffic stewards

Parish councillors accuse staff of "misrepresenting" their power

STEWARDS at Newbury Racecourse have been accused of a “misrepresentation” of their power in controlling traffic on public roads outside the racecourse during race days.

At a Greenham Parish Council meeting held last Wednesday, councillors said that they had received a number of concerns from residents about stewards directing vehicles along Racecourse Road and blocking general traffic in order to allow race-goers to leave the site.

Parish councillors revealed that when Thames Valley Police were asked if the stewards had the right to control traffic on public roads, they had on separate occasions both confirmed and denied that this practice was permitted, while Newbury Racecourse had explicitly told them it was within their authority.

Vice-chairman Chris Austin said at the meeting: “I suspect it is Thames Valley Police not knowing what one hand is doing.

“On the one hand TVP is telling us they don’t have the authority and then the racecourse is saying that they do.”

Acting clerk Heather Westbrook agreed: “The racecourse think they have this permission.

“The concerns [from residents] raised, centre on Racecourse Road and people coming out of the racecourse on race days.”

Chairman Phil Barnett speculated that for Newbury Racecourse it was a “misrepresentation of their powers”.

Addressing further concerns raised at the meeting about the conduct of some traffic staff Julian Swift-Hook said: “They are just doing their job.

“It’s the racecourse we have to speak to.

“The principle of what they are doing there is the issue.”

In an email shown to the parish council but not shared with the Newbury Weekly News, Thames Valley Police had apparently confirmed that the racecourse did not have the authority to direct the traffic in this way.

In response to concerns, a Newbury Racecourse spokesperson dismissed the allegation that the stewards were acting beyond their powers and pointed to a meeting in April 2014, where powers were allegedly conferred by Thames Valley Police on to traffic management contractor CSP.

The racecourse added that CSP employs police-trained and “accredited operatives with powers to direct traffic on the public highway”.

A spokesperson explained: “CSP has adhered to the traffic plan agreed by Thames Valley Police, the local authority and Highways England at that April 2014 meeting and has received no negative feedback until late 2015, which came via the local parish council with reference to the race meeting on December 29, 2015.

“CSP has been using the same pool of operatives to manage this junction, thereby ensuring continuity of the junction management, since April 2014, and there were only minor delays for through traffic on December 29.

“Newbury Racecourse and CSP would be delighted to engage with members of the parish council to discuss any particular issues they may have and to clarify the above points.”

Thames Valley Police did not respond in time for publication when approached.