The man is reported as being Alex Grosset, the chairman of the Rannoch and Tummel Community Council.
He has been called to appear in court on Wednesday. 3,500 riders took part in this year’s 81-mile Etape Caledonia, which is
the UK’s
only mass participation cycling event held on closed roads. Unfortunately for
many, their ride was delayed by nearly one and a half hours after carpet tacks
were scattered on “significant sections of the course”, causing mass
punctures and crashes. The tacks were cleared and the event continued, although
many riders’ times were meaningless. Tayside Joint Police Board Convener Ian Mackintosh called the incident
“contemptible”. He said: “Whilst I am appalled that anyone would act in such an
irresponsible fashion and run the real risk of injuring large numbers of
people, I was greatly heartened by the outcry that followed and the widespread
condemnation directed at this dreadful behaviour.” “I would ask anyone with information that could assist enquiries
to come forward and having spoken with the Deputy Chief Constable today I am
confident that Tayside Police will work swiftly to identify those responsible
and hold them to account. Furthermore, I would hope when those responsible are
put in front of the court that a very strong line is taken.” Not all local residents have been supportive of the Etape, however. A
group called Anti Closed Road Events (ACRE) has objected to the full road
closure, claiming among other things that it prevents them from leaving their
homes at all, including to go to church. Etape Caledonia organisers IMG said that they plan to hold the event in
2010, and are already taking entries. They said they will work with the police
and Perth & Kinross Council to ensure that there will be no repeat of the
incident that marred this year’s event.
I hope this guy has plenty of cash available, because if found guilty, I am sure that there will be more than a few civil claims for compensation for damaged equipment etc…