Arundel Olympic torch visit criticised

DOZENS of people have criticised organisers of Arundel’s Olympic Torch relay celebrations, this week.

Parents of pupils taking part in the festivities have blasted organiser Arun District Council, claiming the hundreds of youngsters at the castle – some as young as four – were left in the pouring rain, with no shelter, while dignitaries drank beer inside a specially-erected marquee.

Others have complained that they were “abandoned” at the park and ride stop, on Ford Airfield, with some claiming they waited at the site for more than two hours.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Rachael Harris, from Highdown Close, Angmering, said her nine-year-old son was left “bitterly disappointed” when she took the decision to drive home after a two-hour wait on the airfield.

She said: “We had been looking forward to this for weeks. I was a bit concerned about how to get to Arundel on the day, I have a six-week-old baby so logistics were important, so when I noticed signs for a free park and ride, I thought ‘perfect’.

“When we arrived, there were lots of cars and a large queue had formed for the bus. We waited for almost two hours in the rain and wind with no information,

“My son begged me to keep trying, ‘It’s my one chance to see the torch, and my best friend is in the parade’ he said. It was appalling.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Nigel Lynn, Arun’s chief executive apologised for the parking issues saying that much of the problem was caused by drivers parking “inconsiderately” and not allowing the coaches access to the site. He said: “We are really sorry to anybody whose experience of the park and ride service fell short of what it should have been.

“We had made arrangements for contractors to be on site to direct the parking and the queuing but this did not happen.

“There were four buses operating – with the intention of them running every 10 to 15 minutes – but they were delayed en route to and back from the town centre because of the sheer level of traffic around Arundel and the inconsiderate parking which we saw a lot of. There were nearly 15,000 people who were in the town to enjoy the celebrations.”

He added that schools had been urged, on several occasions, to warn pupils to bring appropriate clothing during the day, as rain was forecast.