CARNIVAL bosses are being urged to rethink a major event over claims that it is too dangerous for those taking part.

Organisers of Romsey’s annual bed race have already changed the route because of safety fears raised by resident Jo White.

She pointed out that bollards at one end of Narrow Lane where she lives make it too dangerous for the race to pass through there.

Now she is urging the organisers to re-route the children’s go-kart race next Tuesday, too, which at the moment also takes in Narrow Lane.

Mrs White said: “I am pleased they have stopped the bed race from going down the public footpath (Narrow Lane) but I am still very concerned about it being used by the go-karts.

Daily Echo:

“I believe there is still a danger and will be taking this further.

“People taking part have still got to lift the go-karts over bollards and they could trip over cables on the footpath.

If it is deemed unsafe for the bed race surely the same must apply to the gokarts?

“I am worried someone is going to injure themselves.

“I am not against the carnival, particularly as I used to take part in it with the Brownies, but this does worry me.”

Carnival chairman John Ray said everything possible has been done to ensure that the route, which includes a wide area of the town centre, is safe for the bed race and go-kart competitors to use.

“We are going to put an event marshal outside Mrs White’s door and one each end of Narrow Lane.

“People can be assured that the carnival committee would not stage an event that posed a danger to competitors.

“Various road closure orders had been approved to enable the two events to go ahead.”

The Route

THE children’s go-kart race on Tuesday will start from the Alma Road car park at 7pm and takes in Love Lane, the Hundred, the Cornmarket, Bell Street, Newton Lane, Narrow Lane and The Abbey.

Competitors head back to the Alma Road car park via the Market Place, the Hundred, Latimer Street and Love Lane.

The bed race at 7.30pm excludes Narrow Lane and Newton Lane, but otherwise follows the same route plus The Meads, Romsey War Memorial Park, Abbey Approach and Church Street.

Join In

• Wednesday, quiz, Romsey Comrades Club, 8pm. £5 per team of four.

• Friday, new event, Jive night at the town hall, 8pm, £5.

• Sunday (July 20), summer parade, featuring carnival queen Georgia Fernley and her attendants Lucie-Ann Holloway and Ella Little, leaves Romsey Industrial Estate, 3pm, heads for Duttons Road, Station Road, Latimer Street, The Hundred, Palmerston Street, Bell Street and the Market Place.