Council to debate Sunday race
BELFAST city council will decide tonight if it is going to support a proposal to switch the Belfast marathon from its current Monday date to a Sunday.
The controversial issue has been on the agenda since former PSNI chief constable Sir Hugh Orde questioned the cost-effectiveness of staging the event on the May Day bank holiday when police officers were entitled to double their usual hourly rate.
If the proposal gets universal backing, the sporting showpiece could be moved to the preceding Sunday as early as next year.
Belfast City Marathon has received letters of support for the change from Translink, DRD roads division and Belfast city centre management. The event's key organising partner, Athletics Northern Ireland, would also be in favour of the switch to a Sunday.
But the current race route passes a total of 23 places of worship and some Christian groups are opposed to the prospect of a Sunday event.
The chairman of the marathon's organising committee, Danny O'Connor, says the final decision rests with the committee but they are consulting widely on the issue.
"Council approval for date change would be significant but there are many agencies being consulted, including the churches along the current route.
"One situation to take into account is the increasing level of traffic on the road on May Day Monday.
"It has become much more of a working day and the current legislation doesn't allow for road closures to facilitate running events," he said.
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Weather for Belfast
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South
