Last updated at 13:54, Friday, 22 February 2013

The town centre of Cockermouth will miss out on being the starting point of the Malcolm Wilson Rally next week for the first time in the event’s 18-year history because of a mix-up over road closures.

The rally will begin at the M-Sport heaquarters in Dovenby because a road closure order has not been filed this year for Main Street where the event has been started since 1995.

Town councillors and traders are dismayed as the rally brings thousands of people into Cockermouth.

Rally organisers claim that Allerdale Council was responsible for the failure – the council says officers told organisers to apply to the county council but they were ignored.

A council spokesman said that alternative venues had been investigated but an agreement with organisers could not be reached.

Rally cars will drive down Main Street from 8.30am, but will not stop. The finish point will be at the Lakeland Livestock Centre, just outside the town.

Drivers from all over the country compete in forest stages, including Wythop.

First published at 13:52, Friday, 22 February 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk