Statement on Bridgestone British Masters motocross event

A decision has been made that the Bridgestone British Masters Battlecross motocross event in Winterbourne Gunner will not take place this year.

The event wasn't requested to be cancelled, but assurances were not met that adequate plans were in place for the event to take place while keeping everyone in attendance as safe as possible. Such plans are standard practice for any large scale event.

In a joint statement, Terence Herbert, Chief Executive of Wiltshire Council; Andy Hyett, Chief Operating Officer of Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust; Inspector Pete Sparrow, Salisbury Community Policing Team for Wiltshire Police; Station Manager Brad Stevens from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, said:

Following conversations with colleagues at Wiltshire Council, Public Health, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, Wiltshire Police, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, and the event organisers - the decision has been made that now is not the right time for the Bridgestone British Masters Battlecross event to take place. We know this will leave some people disappointed and we are sorry for that, but the health and wellbeing of our communities is our top priority and a gathering of this nature has the potential to undo some of the great work many people have done in following COVID-19 guidance and keeping each other as safe as possible.   

"We know the organisers already have plans for the event to take place in 2021 and hopefully by then we will be in a much better position for more people to come together and enjoy occasions like this together again.