Thousands took part in last year’s event, including some in fancy dress Thousands took part in last year’s event, including some in fancy dress AN Easter Egg Run involving around 8000 motorcyclists to raise cash for patients at Yorkhill Children’s Hospital has been cancelled.

Last year’s event raised £30,000, but organisers of the Motorcycle Action Group have scrapped plans for the 2009 parade, which was due to be held on April 12. No official reason has been given, but it has been suggested it was because of health and safety problems coping with the huge numbers involved, particularly with extensive roadworks on all routes approaching the mustering point at the SECC.

The event has outgrown the old starting point of Kelvin Way and last year’s run was so popular only the first 3000 to arrive at the SECC were allowed to finish at Yorkhill. The procession began in 1988 when just 200 motorcycles took part, but the event now attracts riders from all over the UK. Despite the cancellation of this Easter’s event, volunteers are still being encouraged to send eggs and gifts to kids at Yorkhill directly.

The convoy normally starts at the SECC and delivers thousands of goodies to the hospital. A spokesman for the Motorcycle Action Group said: “Regretfully, we have had to announce this year’s Easter Egg Run has been cancelled. “This is not due to police or council objections. Both have been very supportive. “A lot of people start fundraising and collecting long before the day of the run.

All eggs can still be donated directly to Yorkhill and the kids would appreciate any that arrive.” A spokesman for the city’s health board, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “We are sorry to hear the annual Bikers’ Easter Egg Run has been cancelled. “The arrival of the bikers in their colourful costumes and sacks of eggs has always been one of the most memorable events of the year at the hospital for staff, patients and visitors. “We would like to thank the organisers for their hard work over the years that has made the run possible.”

Regretfully we have to announce that this year’s Easter Egg Run has been cancelled.

In order to quash the usual rumours that start about these things – this is NOT due to Police or council objections. Both these organisations have been very supportive of the run.

STATEMENT FROM EGG RUN ORGANISERS

The Egg Run has been cancelled because of the construction work being carried out at the SECC, we have had permission from the SECC, to use their land – this was given last year. Unfortunately the construction work is very extensive and access to all areas of the SECC has been totally changed, and it can only be accessed from the expressway, and exit through ONE lane (last year there were three) which is bound on both sides by cones and temporary metal fencing on concrete blocks.
Having this week done another survey of the site, it is agreed that it is too dangerous to bring approx 10,000 motorbikes through the construction site. When the work at the front of the building is finished around the end of March, they will be concentrating on the back of the building – this is the area we use.
Bearing in mind we have to do a risk assessment for all parts of the run, there is no solution to the hazard of trying to squeeze 10,000 bikes through a one-way system which is laid out with cones; this is a disaster waiting to happen! This is for YOUR safety.

This decision has not been taken lightly, we have organised this run for the past 9 years, and we are just as upset as everyone else.

MAG Scotland has not disbanded, the organisers have NOT fallen out.

The commitee have reviewed other runs today and have seen some very scary news that several runs that happen at the same time as our run have been canceled.

On review of all the other events the health and safty of the event seems to be the main issues closly followed by adverse support from the council and police.

The 2009 Wirral Egg Run has been fully reviewed by Merseyside Police, Wirral Borough Council, Wirral NHS Trust thease are the main hurdles that have to be addressed by the charity and it is not just having to go and have a quick chat with thease organiseations and get them to sign off that you can run your event.

The egg run team have spent the last 6 – 8 months planning the event under the helpfull eye of the Police and the councils event advisory group that have to sign off our event over the whole time running up to the event thease health and safty check run all the way up to the morning right up to the time the event is due to leave new brighton on the wirral.

This year has not been an easy task as any other year due to the increased health and safty checks and the loss of valued members of our team.

We have had to rebuild support with organisations that help us due to the stigma created by the break up after the 2008 Wirral Egg Run Event as well as having new challanges having to ensure that every business allong the 20 mile route was aware that the run was going to be comming thorugh  there area due to the masses of complaints that there staff not able to get to work and cross the 20 mile line of motorcycles that roll through the wirral for over an hour.

Luckily we have done this with the support of the council, police and the hospital and thank Wirral Borough Council, Merseyside Police and Wirral NHS Trust for there valued support and help in making the 2009 Wirral Egg Run the Safest Wirral Egg Run Event ever.