Northwich traders slam Thundersprint car park work (From Northwich Guardian)

Northwich traders slam Thundersprint car park work

12:40pm Thursday 6th May 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(1)

TRADERS are fuming that a car park has been resurfaced ahead of this weekend’s Thundersprint, when Northwich’s roads need urgent attention.

The car park at Baron’s Quay is used for the main racing event of the Thundersprint, on Sunday, but it had been left in a bad state after the freezing winter.

But town traders and motorcyclists have said that roads are in a mess, too, and that they should have been Cheshire West and Chester Council’s top priority.

Bernie Horrigan, a motorcyclist who lives in Weaverham and works in Northwich, said: “I’m a 100 per cent motorbiker and the roads around Northwich and Cheshire are terrible – they’re full of pot holes.

“It’s funny how the council can find the money for resurfacing a car park and not for roads – it’s a disgrace.”

A CWAC spokesman told the Guardian that if the car park had not been resurfaced, the Thundersprint may have been cancelled.

He said: “The car park surface had deteriorated during the severe winter and we were informed by Thundersprint organisers that the event would be in danger, if there were doubts about the safety of the track.

“We took the view that it was vital to avoid the risk of cancellation, simply because the event attracts thousands of visitors, boosts the local economy and puts Northwich on the international stage.”

He added: “The event organisers have made a contribution to the work which will, of course, benefit the people of Northwich in the future.”

But Dave Curbishley, from High Street Barbers Shop, said that business suffers on Thundersprint weekend.

“The early closure of the car park on the Saturday does affect business in Northwich,” he said.

“I’ve got a picture from last year at 2pm of one of the lads lying across the waiting chairs – the shop’s absolutely empty.

“But you can come in here any Saturday between 9am and 5am and you would be lucky to get a seat.

“On Thundersprint weekend, it’s dead.”