‘Love Our Turf’ call to anti-social racegoers under starters orders

• Gloucestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has welcomed the latest plans to reduce anti-social behaviour during this month’s National Hunt Festival at Cheltenham
• The pilot scheme introduced at last year’s November race meeting is being expanded to include all main routes to and from the racecourse
• PCC Chris Nelson said, “I am delighted the Jockey Club is listening and taking the views of residents seriously and is adopting some of the key ideas we put forward”.
• The new-look ‘Love Our Turf’ approach will take in Albert Road, Tommy Taylors Lane, Paddocks Lane and the end of the Honeybourne Line footpath

New moves to reduce anti-social behaviour, which have alienated communities around one of the country’s biggest sporting events, have been warmly welcomed by Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Chris Nelson.

Building on the pilot scheme introduced at last year’s November race meeting, it is hoped the new look ‘Love Our Turf’ campaign, will also strengthen the relationship between the Racecourse and the local community.

This latest approach follows high-level talks initiated by the PCC with the Jockey Club, Police, local councils and community representatives after the PCC received a ‘considerable number’ of complaints relating to people urinating in gardens, defecating in public parks and verbally abusing local residents.

Mr. Nelson said, “The racecourse will have more stewards and toilet facilities available on race days, which were some of the key ideas we put forward. Our new Deputy Chief Constable Shaun West has also made a number of changes to the police planning around the event.”

The annual National Hunt Festival held at the ‘home of jump racing’ in March features the blue riband Cheltenham Gold Cup with around 260,000 spectators across four-days of racing expected. According to Cheltenham Borough Council, the 2019 Festival generated an estimated £100m for the local economy, showing the huge economic benefit to Gloucestershire.

During the Saturday of last year’s November Meeting, which was attended by around 30,000 racegoers, the ‘Love Our Turf’ pilot focused on Evesham Road, using wayfinding ushers, enhanced street cleaning, more bins and more toilets. There was also an enhanced and visible policing presence. With much bigger crowds due during the March Festival, measures have been extended.

With the four-day festival in March anticipating around 260,000 racegoers, the campaign is being expanded to incorporate other main routes to and from the racecourse including Albert Road, Tommy Taylors Lane, Paddocks Lane and the end of the Honeybourne Line footpath.

Andre Klein, Cheltenham Racecourse Community Engagement Manager, said, “Our relationship with the local community is extremely important to us and following the trial in November it was heartening to see a number of local residents express their gratitude for the effort we made. Following its successful trial at The November Meeting, ‘Love Our Turf’ will operate over all four days of The Festival.

“There will be an increased number of wayfinding stewards, additional toilet facilities and will be facilitating an enhanced litter picking programme.

“We are also aiming to raise awareness of ‘Love Our Turf’ at The Festival with a significant advertising campaign, which includes distributing postcards promoting the initiative to local hospitality businesses.”

“Hopefully the Love Our Turf campaign will go some way to alleviating some of the issues our residents experienced last year, when we had record attendances across all four days of the Festival.”

Mr. Nelson, said, “I am delighted the Jockey Club is listening and taking the views of residents seriously. My Deputy and I have taken a very close interest in planning for this year’s Festival so that we avoid the disgusting scenes we saw last year.”

“Racing in Cheltenham draws in huge crowds and is vital for the local economy, but this cannot be at the expense of locals who unfortunately have had to live with terrible anti-social behaviour for a long time.”

“I appreciate that it can be difficult to manage racegoers once they have left the racecourse, especially when there are so many attendees, but it is important to maintain a good relationship with local residents and ‘be a good neighbour’. I hope the campaign will reduce anti-social behaviour for local residents and racegoers are able to enjoy the occasion.”

“We are working hard to make sure everything goes to plan – and we will keep a close eye on things throughout the Festival.”

If all goes well, ‘Love Our Turf’ will eventually incorporate the whole journey from Cheltenham Town Centre to the Racecourse for those arriving via foot, with street entertainers and selfie zones planned.

Heath Gunter, Chief Executive of Cheltenham BID, said: “We were thrilled to receive such positive feedback after the November meeting and are eager to witness the impact of the Love Our Turf campaign during the Festival week. It’s fantastic to see various organisations in the town come together to bring this initiative to life.”

Tackling anti-social behaviour is one of the six key priorities of the PCC’s Police and Crime Prevention Plan.