General Chat

Six hundred years of tradition have been been tossed aside as organisers cancelled a pancake race in Yorkshire.

The Shrove Tuesday race in Ripon usually attracts hundreds of people to watch local schools and businesses tossing pancakes through the city's cobbled streets.

But this year, organisers have called a halt to the race because of the time and costs involved in having to put the necessary precautions and regulations in place.

Bernard Bateman, Liberal Democrat councillor for Ripon North and one of the organisers, blamed "bureaucracy".

He said: "The main problem is the health and safety aspects and issues such as that. There is bureaucracy that goes into holding any event these days, the policing, the risk assessments, and it has a cost factor and takes a lot of time."

Organisers were told they would have to pay £250 to the local authority to close Kirkgate Road, where the race took place.

They would also have to hold insurance risk assessments and pay to have medical staff on hand in case of any injuries or accidents.

The Pancake Bell has rung for 600 years and was traditionally used to signal the start of the race, which was revived in 1998 by former Dean of Ripon John Methuen

ITN News

I saw that this morning Colin.........The world has gone mad !!

I'm just wondering if the Shrove Tuesday street football game involving thousands in a free for all will take place in Atherstone today...people usually do get injured in the chaosl so won't be surprised if the Shrove Tuesday Football Match's days are numbered and that will be the end to another tradition dating back to the 12th century

Has the world gone mad ??.........well they cant risk any1 getting hit by a flying pancake I suppose .........might get hurt !!

It wont just be down to H&S its down to £'s and the fact that folk cant be ar....d these days.

sorry must go have to do a risk assessment .......need to go shop but that involves

1. avin a baf......eek risk of drowning(low) am a good swimmer) ........control -av a stand up wash instead.
2. going up n down stairs- risk-could fall(med)am wobbly today .....control-go up n down on bum (now low)
3. go outside - pollution -risk (?) control - (?)
4. muddy lane to cut through.....OMG not mud risk(VERY HIGH) arrgghh control- whirlys wellies (low)
5. oops forgot risk of being attacked by a skwirrel or fox .
6. busy road to cross .....ekkkkk im off back to bed

6. sorry bed not allowed due to dust mites danger causing allergy

lol dam new id miss summat

just have to go for it then n hope for the best....will report in on my return if i survive this task..bfn

Colin,The Health and Safety Wallahs,have to make sure that the "Tossers" can do so properly,with out endangering the people enjoying this Ancient and harmless passtime.( The aformentioned (T) being the Local Council) no doubt the £250.going towards their Pension Fund.**M**.:o))))>

Couldn't agree with you more Merlin. when I worked at Vodafone one of my jobs was DSE Risk Assessment Officer and I had to teach all new members of staff how to sit on a chair! if it wasn't so pathetic it would be funny

How to "What" on a Chair?? Glasses getting Blurred from laughing,.::o))>**M**.

Yes how to sit on a chair other gems included how to close blinds to reduce glare on computer screens and how to ensure your work area is tidy and litter free...The daft thing is I had to go a four day course and sit an exam at the end of it! lol

Colin, The Mind Boggles.I wonder if some one could teach our PM. that Question time is supposed to mean Answer Time Also?Or would that be too much for him to comprehend? **M**.

I have decided as from today that any jobs my OH asks me to do , she will have to provide me with a full risk and , coshh assessment, together with all the necessary safety and access equipment. Failure on her part to provide this will result in me withdrawing my labour, and will render her likely to prosecution, should she refuse to fulfil her obligations under the Health And Safety at Work Act.

Please note i will delete this within 24 hrs, she might see it then i will be in trouble.

On one occasion I had to ask the window cleaners to leave the building as they weren't wearing safety lines attached to the secure points on the walls...you should have seen their faces as they were cleaning the inside of the windows

well made it back safely colin lol...but forgot about risk of getting wet !!!!!

I work in childcare so you can just imagine the red tape and risk assessments that go with it . Ok I admit most are needed but I cant help wondering how I and my kids managed to survive childhood.
I think we are forgetting the FRIGHT and FLlGHT instinct we have and are in danger of loosing it altogether with this wrap em up in cotton wool c...p.

Sue I don't even want to think about the regulations about H&S for childcare related jobs would entail. My H&S manual must be 500-600 pages and thats just for an office environment.....right now its in its rightful place....in a plastic bag in the loft!

Colin Could,nt you have had it "Recycled" into a couple or three "Bog Rolls" .:o))>**M**.

Merlin it isn't even worth using for that...some nice pictures of people sitting on chairs though Col :)

lol colin best place for it

I'm currently undertaking a RA on our outdoor play area......conclusion ..its not safe to let the kids out !!!
When some twit designed it they thought wooden decking would look nice !!! nice yes but when it gets wet ...well its like an ice rink!!! and it splits leaving splinters . I have asked for it to be removed.

I am afraid to move from here now...all these dangers around me !!

*hope I am sitting on my chair properly*

HELLO EVRYBODY

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