BBC NEWS
Legal threat as bike show dropped
The organiser of Wales' biggest motorbike show could take legal action after it was cancelled amid fears of violence between rival biker gangs.
The annual Welsh National Motorcycle Show was to have taken place at the Royal Welsh showground in Powys.
But Dyfed-Powys Police said there would be a "significant risk of violence" if it went ahead as planned next week.
Motorcyclists planning to attend the event near Builth Wells between 23 - 26 May have also criticised the decision.
Organiser Steve Bennett said the cancellation would cause "financial suffering".
He said he is considering taking legal action against the Royal Welsh Showground Committee after they called off the event following meetings with police.
There's more violence in any major city on any weekend than you get at any of the bike shows
Steve Bennett, organiser
Mr Bennett said his company Welsh Motorcycle Shows Ltd, which organises the event, had not been part of the discussions and only found out about the cancellation on Tuesday.
But he understood there were fears of clashes between the Hells Angels and the Outlaws.
He said violence between the gangs was "very rare and very sporadic", adding: "To be honest there's more violence in any major city on any weekend than you get at any of the bike shows."
But in a statement, police said: "Dyfed-Powys Police has serious reservations about the potential security implications of holding the Welsh motorcycle show at Builth Wells this year.
"The reservations are based on a significant increase in violence between rival motorcycle gangs across the UK as a whole.
"Nationally a number of motorcycle shows linked to the rival factions are facing challenge under the Licensing Act 2003, as the police believe the shows will be targeted for disturbance and there remains a real risk of serious violence.
Dyfed-Powys Police are of the view that there is a significant risk of violence at this year's Welsh motorcycle show
Dyfed-Powys Police
"Recently the NEC Birmingham cancelled a motorcycle show to protect the safety of everyone involved.
"The organisers of a similar show in Derbyshire have also cancelled that event. Additionally Warwickshire Constabulary is in the process of mounting a legal challenge against a show to be held in their area."
The force added the police believed there was a "significant risk of violence at this year's Welsh motorcycle show."
Mr Bennett said he was considering legal action for traders and entertainers who had been at the event, along with ticket holders.
"We're talking about a significant amount of financial suffering here and an awful lot of money is involved in these events," he added.
Welsh Motorcycle Shows Ltd also organises the Isle of Anglesey Motorcycle Show, which is planned to take place between 22 - 25 August.
Last week, organisers of a rock music festival at Catton Hall in south Derbyshire withdrew their application for a licence amid fears of violence.
Story from BBC NEWS:
[link]Published: 2008/05/15 11:42:03 GMT
© BBC MMVIII
Devious Comments
2008 will see an opportunity for ALL genres of artist.
I am organising and hosting 10 months of arts events in our busy community centre [link] and on the internet, between March and December 2008. This will fit in and around existing local activities and bookings.
Part of the event will be an on-line gallery which will be projected onto a large screen. The gallery will be interactive and the viewing public will have the opportunity to interact with the artists via comments boxes. Artists will all be invited to submit your artwork to the show. All artwork will be categorised and should be accompanied by a description, and a short biography.
Because the gallery will be on-line, I will be encouraging other galleries to display and interact with the display.
Any suggestions or ideas would be most welcome. Visit the News section on DeviantArt for more details: [link] and add it to your favourites so that everyone gets to see it.
List of events and interest so far
On-Line Gallery - 17 artists so far
Poetry Readings - 3 groups, 5 individuals.
Film evenings - 1 premiere, 1 film club
Plays - 1 drama school and 1 amature drama group
Art Gallery days - 3 art galleries
Museum days - 2 museums
Book readings - 3 authors
New today
Singing sessions - 1 folk club, 1 Jazz Singer, 1 opera singer
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Simon Thomson
I N T E R N A T I O N A L . A R T S . E X H I B I T I O N
w w w . e l u k . c o . u k / e x h i b i t i o n
--
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss
Proud supporter of *RawEm0tion *Thumbshare & ~Visual-Poetry-Club
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Simon Thomson
I N T E R N A T I O N A L . A R T S . E X H I B I T I O N
w w w . e l u k . c o . u k / e x h i b i t i o n
--
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss
Proud supporter of *RawEm0tion *Thumbshare & ~Visual-Poetry-Club
--
Simon Thomson
I N T E R N A T I O N A L . A R T S . E X H I B I T I O N
w w w . e l u k . c o . u k / e x h i b i t i o n
--
Simon Thomson
I N T E R N A T I O N A L . A R T S . E X H I B I T I O N
w w w . e l u k . c o . u k / e x h i b i t i o n
can you tell me shortly, how to represent it in my journal? its better be short to get the attantion first.
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hanna
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hanna
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Winter Spring Summer or Fall, all you have to do is call, and I'll be there yes I will, you've got a friend.
Sorry it has taken a while to get back to you. I will work on something in the morning as
a) My son is just back from University, and
b) I have been Sound Technician at a play and I have only just got home.
Thank you so much for this.
Simon
--
Simon Thomson
I N T E R N A T I O N A L . A R T S . E X H I B I T I O N
w w w . e l u k . c o . u k / e x h i b i t i o n
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