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Friday, 12th March 2010

Pagans and bikers the new mods and rockers?

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Published Date:
04 February 2010
Bank holidays in the 1960s were all about fights between the mods and rockers.
Now it seems Hastings has a new seasonal conflict – the pagans and the bikers.

Organisers of the hugely popular annual Jack in the Green celebrations have been forced to change the route of the festival's climatic procession because the seafront has become too dangerous.

This is because tens of thousands of bikers flock to the town over the same weekend, in May, on which as many as 30,000 revellers head to Jack in the Green.

And it seems the seafront strip is just not big enough for the both of them.

More than 20,000 motorbike enthusiasts pack the town for the unofficial May Day meet and it appears the number of motorcycles roaring along the seafront road is putting Jack in the Green party-goers at risk.

Keith Leech, who is chairman of the Jack in the Green committee, told the Observer that the grand procession, which includes giant figures, morris dancers and scores of drummers, would now be diverted along Croft Road and Collier Road rather than the seafront.

This means it will head along George Street, reverse back up again and go along the back way to Hastings Castle, cutting out what many consider to be the best vantage point for people watching proceedings.

He said: "The risks involved in using the seafront for the May Day Monday procession, whether on the road or the pavement, are too great because of the increasingly large number of motorcycles that use the road on that day.

"Therefore the procession will avoid the seafront altogether and use Croft Road and Collier Road to get to the West Hill and Castle.

"This is not a decision that the committee and I have taken lightly and we know that many people including residents, seafront- and town-centre traders will be very disappointed.

"The reasons for the change are entirely due to the presence of the thousands of motorcycles in the town at that time.

"We have been advised that this has now become incompatible with the procession."

The new route will be trialled at this year's festival, after which the committee will look again at the best, and safest route.

Kevin Boorman, tourism manager for Hastings Borough Council, said he did not think the change would have an impact on the number of people coming to see the festival.

What do you think of the decision? Would you rather the bikers didn't come? Leave your comments below.

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  • Last Updated: 04 February 2010 2:34 PM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Hastings
 
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1

Machine Head,

05/02/2010 10:01:27
'' Bring on the Bikers''!!!
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AldusHuxley,

Hastings 05/02/2010 10:08:03

Why can't the road be closed off as in October ?
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Machine Head,

05/02/2010 11:17:07
Mr Boorman a great advocate of tourism for Hastings will be pleased to know that an army of '' Hells Angels'', will be roaring through the town on the bank holiday. They will be waving '' We love the Jerwood' banners from their machines!!!!
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Ex-disgusted,

Hastings 05/02/2010 11:39:47
This article seems intent on creating an emnity that simply isn't there, with a headline that makes a comparison to Modes and Rockers that doesn't make sense. This is just an issue of road safety.
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Rockingbird,

'astins 05/02/2010 23:50:47
It's that bloomin' knob-jockey morris again! As ex-disgusted says (although in this case I feel a name change to ex-ex-disgusted would be acceptable) it's not a social situation where two life-styles are in conflict causing tensions between highly charged youth cultures, it's just a road safety issue regarding the finite amount of space available for everybody coming to our lovely town!

So stop it Morris you poison penned gobshite!
6

Muckypuppy,

Hastings 06/02/2010 07:49:46
What a load of rubbish. Both bring a lot of trade to the town and the event is always good humoured. Lets all see the figures for accidents involving bikes and pedestrians or is this health and safety going mad again. Lets not forget if the figures above are correct 2 out of 3 pedestrians are bikers!
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Rod Bridger,

Hastings 06/02/2010 21:18:02
I have seen some utter bilge water come from Hastings Borough Council over the last few months but this really is the bottom of the barrel. I have personally been in charge of the HBC side of security and public safety on the day for a goodly number of years. There has never been a conflict of any sort between the two groups. The bulk of bikers start to arrive after the Jack in the Green parade has passes along the sea front. Those that do arrive usually enjoy the spectacle as much as any other visitor. Indeed, many of the early arrivals come for the added joy of seeing Jack.

Many different methods were tried in passing the parade from the end of George Street to Mastins Roundabout including closing the north side of the carriageway and even forcing the parade to break at George Street and walk individually along the front. But - hold on a 'mo - what is that I see - it's a big wide pavement along that side of the road now, certainly wide enough to allow the parade to pass along in perfect safety.

So why are HBC intent on sending the parade into the 'out of beyond' where the vast majority of visitors will not see it? Could it be another case of HBC attempting to 'dumb down' Hastings? Let's face it, they are very good at that.

To suggest that there is any other kind of conflict is a down right lie whether said by the council or the Observor. The 'Bikers' are enthusiasts, not 'Hells Angels'

This day, in my opinion is the best day of the year with two different cultures from opposite ends of the spectrum meeting and enjoying each others customs. Which is good enough for HBC to kill it stone dead!
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Rod Bridger,

Hastings 06/02/2010 21:40:34
I must apologise for the above, it was written in haste without considering all of the aspects before I put pen to paper. A cardinal sin , I know and for that I apologise.

As I mentioned above, as the Senior Warden of the now defunct Warden Service, I was responsble for the HBC side of security and public safety on this particular day. As such I was involved in the planning stages of the event.

What must be remembered is that the Bike Rally is not an official event. It is a 'spontanious' event that is now firmly set in the bikers calender. For years Sussex Police have been dropping hints that they don't like it. They would prefer to close the A21 and send them all away. HBC don't like it either. Historicall they have given over Breeds Place car park to the bikers and now fear that as they have done so, have they made it official? That of course sends shivers down the spines of our 'decision' makers when you start talking about good old Health & Safety!!

I remeber at one meeting someone asking Sussex Police "How on earth do you control 30,000 bikers"? The police response was simple - throwing his hands in the air he replied "You don't".

The police historicall have had nothing to do with the Parade, that was left to the HBC Wardens to 'police' and although I say it, they done it well. (I have to say it because nobody from the council ever did).

There was never any trouble on this day and I can recall no road traffic accidents atributable to the event. Leave it alone - let people enjoy themselves.
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Rockingbird,

'astins 07/02/2010 00:46:49
Regardless of the health & safety aspect of the issues raised the fact remains that this article is an inflammatory piece of tabloid stirring designed to insinuate a friction between the bikers and the morris folk.

I live in the town and would like to think I have a foot in both camps. Now, I'm almost 100% certain that there isn't a single biker amongst the 20,000 who is setting off with the intent of punching a morris man and by the same token I don't think many of Jack Bogies are just biding their time waiting for the oppotunity to give a biker a punch up the bracket!

The whole day is a fine example of the diversity of the town and the ability of different cultures to spend time rubbing shoulders with one-another and taking time to enjoy each others interests peacefully.

Richard Morris should be truly ashamed of himself for this article, as should the Observer for allowing it to be published! A full, printed apology is called for, nothing less!
10

Machine Head,

07/02/2010 07:32:20
photo opportunity.. Rod Bridger dusting his moped and his union jack helmet!!
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