English road racing a step closer to reality

The possibility of a road race on English or Welsh soil came a step closer to reality today, with the Deregulation Bill that will allow the closing of public roads with just a council order and not an Act of Parliament passing Royal Assent.

The new legislation will allow local councils to instead issue the road closing orders, meaning that Irish and Manx style racing is now foreseeable on the mainland.

MSA Chief Executive Rob Jones, the car equivalent of the ACU and one of the key drivers of the legislation change, commented: “In particular we must recognise the invaluable contributions of both the Right Honourable Ken Clarke, the Minister responsible for driving the legislation, and Ben Wallace MP, who has relentlessly championed the cause of motor sport within Westminster these past five years and kept the pressure on his colleagues when necessary.

“I would also like to thank all those who have lent their backing, whether by responding to consultation, writing to their MP or simply by voicing their support.”

Before the primary legislation can become available to event organisers, secondary legislation – in the form of a statutory instrument detailing the enabling powers – is required to also be passed.