CLOSED ROAD EVENTS

That this House believes that the UK is losing out both in sporting and economic terms as a direct result of the law that requires an Act of Parliament to suspend the Road Traffic Act on a stretch of the public highway, which has put a stop to successful motor sport events like the Saltburn Hill Climb; notes that throughout Europe closed road events bring great benefit to the local communities in terms of tourism, economic prosperity and sporting kudos; and calls on the Government to introduce a mechanism to deliver a Temporary Suspension Order in association with local authorities that would enable a limited annual number of closed road events such as the Saltburn Hill Climb to take place in England, Wales and Scotland, which, based on estimates by the Motor Sports Association, could deliver substantial benefits to local areas of between 20 million and 60 million each year.