Local Government Minister Eric Pickles has become exercised over a Somerset road run, although there is no chance of him taking part.
It is the administration fee that Somerset County Council sought to levy for road closures at Glastonbury Road Run that has caught the well-padded minister's interest, not the chance of a ten-kilometre run round the Tor.
Organisers were told that the charge for closures at this year's event would be £1,000, a third of the sum which the popular event raises for charities, including carnival clubs, scouts, Women's Institutes, Street and Glastonbury Lions, Glastonbury FM and the Lalibela Trust, set up by race founder Dr Hugh Sharp.
Councillor Harvey Siggs, county councillor responsible for roads and transport, says changes in Government regulations on charging were responsible. But local MP Tessa Munt was astounded when she was told and met Mr Pickles to discuss the situation. She fears that some charity events will have to be abandoned if such fees are charged.
Ms Munt said "It is completely unfair that Somerset County Council has a policy of charging charitable events for road closures."
After negotiations Somerset County Council reduced the the charge for this year's event, held earlier this month, to £570 which was the cost of placing advertisements about the road closures in local newspapers. However, Ms Munt said she has received no guarantee of the cost for future events.
She said: "I am concerned that unless guidance is clarified, charity events like the Glastonbury Road Run will become a thing of the past because of the financial burden and in terms of the time needed for form filling which would be an awful shame. There should be no element of 'profit' for the county council via its charging regime for charities."
Mr Pickles has promised to look at the relevant guidance for such events.
Mr Siggs said the council had been observing guidelines and added: "If Ms Munt and her Government colleagues could get together and talk together as a coalition before she starts blaming people it would be a great help."
