From today's newspaper

TT organisers under fire from home owners

TT CROWDS: With the races only three weeks away, a full list of prohibited areas has yet to be published. Following another delay, it is now due out this week

"If people don't wish to have these restrictions in force then they are being told to contact their insurance company. Why should they? People I've spoken to are very concerned."
Juan Turner MLC

TT RACE organisers deny they are forcing householders at danger spots on the course to take out their own insurance.
Course safety is being tightened up in the wake of the 26th Milestone tragedy last year – but there has been criticism about how this will affect people with homes next to the circuit.

Letters were sent by ACU Events Ltd to some 30 properties in areas deemed too dangerous for spectators, urging owners and occupiers to consent to them being included as a prohibited area – or else look at taking out their own insurance to cover them for potential liabilities in the event of injuries or damage.

With the races only three weeks away, a full list of prohibited areas has yet to be published. Following another delay, it is now due out this week.

The ACU's letter reads: 'By permitting your property to be included as a restricted/prohibited area it would then be illegal for anyone to remain in the area designated during practicing and racing – this includes you.

'If you do not wish this restriction/prohibition to be in force then you should discuss with insurers your responsibilities and potential liabilities in allowing people to remain on your property when it has been identified as a potentially higher risk area.'

Owners or occupiers have to sign their consent – and they are also asked to sign if they refuse.

Juan Turner MLC was due to raise concerns in the Legislative Council today (Tuesday). He said: 'I am not for one minute suggesting TT insurance is inadequate. But the 1982 Road Races Act is quite clear – the event promoters must have adequate insurance and to put the onus on property owners is a step too far.

'They feel almost obliged to sign something they don't wish to sign. They shouldn't feel like they've done anything wrong.

'If people don't wish to have these restrictions in force then they are being told to contact their insurance company. Why should they? People I've spoken to are very concerned.'

Under the Road Races Act, owners and occupiers have to consent before their land is designated a prohibited area.

In most cases, the prohibited area covers a two to three-metre strip of garden bordering the course.

Clerk of the course Eddie Nelson said: 'It's been done in this way before. It is somewhat more formalised. We've listened to the Coroner and one of his biggest concerns was that people didn't know where they could and could not go.'

He said drawing up an agreed list of prohibited areas had taken longer than he would have liked and said they had come across innumerable stumbling blocks.

'We have a duty of care, he said. 'If you've a house in, say, Ballaugh and you invited 200 people to a barbecue in your garden to watch the TT, that's fine.

'But if the ACU track inspectors have identified it as a hazard, a potential risk area, then we are advising that you could be liable. Whether you take any notice is up to you.

'We are not telling people to take out their own insurance but advising them to speak to their insurers. If we tell people, we are criticised, if we don't, we're criticised.'

It is understood six or seven owners and occupiers have refused to sign.