ORGANISERS of the Tavy 7 Road Race are being asked to change the date of their event from Remembrance Day, after a number of complaints this year.

There were complaints that the race, which takes place on Whitchurch Down, disrupted the remembrance service and commemoration at St Andrew's Church.

Tavistock Athletic Club has apologised to the public through a letter in the Times and to the priest-in-charge of St Andrew's — and said it was discussing how it could ensure that such a situation never happened again.

The club said it had a few practical ideas, including moving the event away from Remembrance Day, but there were difficulties as the road race calendar was a full one and it did not wish to clash with other events in the region.

At a meeting of the town council's properties committee last week, Cllr John Sellis said it was not appropriate to hold a road race on Remembrance Day and 'create mayhem around Whitchurch'.

He said loudspeakers had been used and it was questionable whether it should be held on any Sunday: 'Sunday is still special to some people,' he said.

Plasterdown Parish Council had sent a letter of complaint to the athletics club asking it to change the date, added Mr Sellis.

Cllr Mandy Govier said the Tavy 7 road race had grown and grown and was now a very successful event.

'Only a few years ago there were 200 runners but this year there were 760,' she said.

'I understand the concerns about remembrance but the racing calendar is very prescriptive and it may be difficult for the club to have a different date. I think it is a bit severe to ask them, after 15 years, to move the date because of problems this year.

She said loudspeakers were necessary for an event of this size and by its very nature, it also created a lot of litter.

A different route was suggested by Cllr Debo Sellis as a solution — one that did not pass the church or war memorial. A different time was also suggested.

The committee agreed to write to the athletics club, saying it was unacceptable to use Whitchurch Down on Remembrance Day and to ask the club for alternative dates, which could be considered at the next meeting.