Pagans and bikers the new mods and rockers?
Bank holidays in the 1960s were all about fights between the mods and rockers.
Now it seems Hastings has a new seasonal conflict – the pagans and the bikers.
Organisers of the hugely popular annual Jack in the Green celebrations have been forced to change the route of the festival's climatic procession because the seafront has become too dangerous.
This is because tens of thousands of bikers flock to the town over the same weekend, in May, on which as many as 30,000 revellers head to Jack in the Green.
And it seems the seafront strip is just not big enough for the both of them.
More than 20,000 motorbike enthusiasts pack the town for the unofficial May Day meet and it appears the number of motorcycles roaring along the seafront road is putting Jack in the Green party-goers at risk.
Keith Leech, who is chairman of the Jack in the Green committee, told the Observer that the grand procession, which includes giant figures, morris dancers and scores of drummers, would now be diverted along Croft Road and Collier Road rather than the seafront.
This means it will head along George Street, reverse back up again and go along the back way to Hastings Castle, cutting out what many consider to be the best vantage point for people watching proceedings.
He said: "The risks involved in using the seafront for the May Day Monday procession, whether on the road or the pavement, are too great because of the increasingly large number of motorcycles that use the road on that day.
"Therefore the procession will avoid the seafront altogether and use Croft Road and Collier Road to get to the West Hill and Castle.
"This is not a decision that the committee and I have taken lightly and we know that many people including residents, seafront- and town-centre traders will be very disappointed.
"The reasons for the change are entirely due to the presence of the thousands of motorcycles in the town at that time.
"We have been advised that this has now become incompatible with the procession."
The new route will be trialled at this year's festival, after which the committee will look again at the best, and safest route.
Kevin Boorman, tourism manager for Hastings Borough Council, said he did not think the change would have an impact on the number of people coming to see the festival.
What do you think of the decision? Would you rather the bikers didn't come? Leave your comments below.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Lewes
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 15 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
