CONTROL OF MOTOR RALLIES BILL (Hansard, 4 April 1973)

§ Mr. Caerwyn E. Roderick (Brecon and Radnor)

I beg to move, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make further provision for the control and regulation of motor rallies. The numerous complaints I have received from constituents have prompted me to introduce the Bill, which is an attempt to resolve the conflict between the interests of the rally enthusiasts and those people who reside in areas that are suitable for rallying.

Rallies take place at night. As country roads provide the best tests for motorists, those people living near such roads, who are accustomed to quietness at night, find that the noise of a rally is a great nuisance. There have been complaints about dangerous driving, rudeness and abuse from rally drivers, but the major complaint has been about noise.

The present controls come under the regulations that came into force in April 1969. Those regulations largely follow the recommendations in the Report of the Advisory Committee on Motor Rallies, published in 1964. The regulations give to the Royal Automobile Club the power to authorise rallies. Any motor club wishing to stage a rally applies to the RAC and pays it a fee. Paragraph 10 of the relevant statutory instrument requires the RAC to notify the chief officer of police of any area where it is proposed to hold an event, and to consult the appropriate highway authority. This arrangement of consultation and notification is far too loose. The power still lies with the RAC.

Paragraph 11 requires the RAC to have regard to (a) whether in all the circumstances it is likely that the conditions, subject to which 441 the event if authorised, would be required to be held, will be observed ". Note the words "is likely". It also requires the RAC to have regard to (b) the extent to which the holding of an event might prejudicially affect the safety, amenity or convenience of members of the public, … (d) the nature and suitability of the route … These matters are to be within the prerogative of the RAC to decide. It is a matter of opinion on which it will judge. The arrangements are far too loose and need to be tightened up. Both paragraphs that I have quoted place far too much power in the hands of the RAC, which has been far too remote, far too off hand in dealing with complaints from the general public.

The Bill would change the controlling agency and make it more subject to local interests. It proposes that bodies be set up in each area or region of England and Wales, bodies consisting of representatives of motor clubs, motor cycle organisations, police authorities and local government. Those bodies will be responsible for authorising events, for receiving and dealing with complaints, and for supervising events.

Motoring organisations contend that "cowboys"—unofficial competitors and spectators—are often the cause of complaints. More adequate supervision by the bodies I propose in the Bill might deal with some of those problems.

The public would have more confidence, in that the complaints machinery would be more subject to their control, as they would be directly represented. We should have on the bodies people more sensitive to local feelings, as are the best motor clubs.

The Bill also provides for a semipermanent commission to meet at regular intervals—say, annually or every two years—to keep the situation under constant review and to make recommenda- 442 tions to the Minister on any changes that may be thought necessary.

The last advisory committee sat 10 years ago. It stated then: Although the number of events held each year seems to be fairly constant, there is some evidence that the total number of participants is growing. The situation has changed considerably in 10 years, and a new look at the problem is needed.

That committee also recommended, in paragraph 97 of its Report, the setting up of a permanent advisory committee. The Government of the day did not think that to be necessary, but I believe the committee was right. A permanent commission is needed.

I would also mention, although it cannot be the subject of this legislation, the use of forest roads. Many of the problems could be overcome if direct grants were made to the Forestry Commission to strengthen and improve certain forest roads so that they could be used freely by the general public in the day and for rallies at night. The present fee payable for the use of the roads by motor clubs makes it prohibitive for all but the wealthiest clubs to consider using them.

I hope that the House will accept that the problem needs urgent attention, and will allow the Bill a Second Reading.