UK: Gloucester Cheese Rolling Cancelled for Health & Safety

A sad day in Britain -- and indeed, the world -- as it was announced that the annual Coopers Hill Cheese Rolling races in Brockworth, Gloucester have been canceled. That ends an at least 200-year-old tradition of humans haphazardly hurtling down a steep hill in pursuit of a rolling cheese; indeed, some claim the event even dates back to Roman occupation. But since last year's event attracted more than 15,000 spectators to the tiny hamlet of Brockworth -- three times the race area's capacity -- police have canceled the 2010 poursuite de fromage due to safety concerns. Bah!

Not to get all Daily Mail about it, but this is stupid.  Make a waiver that everyone has to sign acknowledging they might die chasing cheese down a hill, and figure out parking areas and shuttle buses and whatever accommodations need to be made for the spectators and get on with the cheese rolling!  Cancelling the event is not the best solution to the problem!

As I understand it, the issue is nothing to do with the dangers of people rolling down the hill, it's to do with policing a crowd of 15,000 in an area that just isn't suitable for it.

This thread has made me hungry! 

As I understand it, the issue is nothing to do with the dangers of people rolling down the hill, it's to do with policing a crowd of 15,000 in an area that just isn't suitable for it.

That's how I understand it, too.  But as I said before, I'm sure there's a way to put this event on safely.  Cancelling the event is only one of a range of possible solutions.