Council lays blame after Drymen Show cancelled

DRYMEN SHOW, due to be held this weekend, has been cancelled because the show failed to follow steps to reduce the risk of E. coli 0157 to its showgoers.

Stirling Council officials this week blamed the organisers, Strathendrick Agricultural Society, for ignoring reminders about bio-security rules, which govern agricultural events.

The council had reiterated the rules to organisers following last year’s show, when four people were diagnosed with E. coli 0157. However, although each of these people had links to the 2011 Drymen Show, the cause of their infection has not been proved.

“It is extremely disappointing that this year’s Drymen Show has been cancelled,” said a council spokesperson.

“At a meeting on Friday May 18, the show organisers and council officers reached agreement on the public health requirements to enable the show to proceed.

“Scottish Government provide guidance on the recreational use of animal pasture to reduce the risk of E. coli 0157, stating that farm animals should be kept off fields for three weeks prior to use with removal of any visible animal droppings.

“Contact with farm animal faeces on farm pasture presents a risk to the public, especially young children, from the spread of E. coli 0157.

“Following last year’s event the Drymen Show organisers were advised by Stirling Council of the site clearance advice from Health Protection Scotland and informed that this would be required for any future events.

“This advice was reiterated by the council following receipt of the public entertainment licence application for this year’s event,” added the spokesperson.

“Despite having received assurances that the animals had been removed, this was found not to be the case and animals remained on the show ground area as of May 18 — only eight days before the date of the show.”

Strathendrick Agricultural Society released a statement which said that, in terms of public health requirements, at an early stage of the discussions there was some confusion between what the organisers thought was meant by “the show ground” and what the council thought of as that area, as well as differing opinions between organisers and the council on the correct guidance to follow.

“Subsequent contacts with the council clarified that the council required that the entire area, including the car parking and accesses required to be cleared and that the council did not accept or agree with the organiser’s view of what was the appropriate guidance for the holding of an agricultural show.

“The meeting on May 18 sought to address alternative requirements to allow the show to proceed. Within the time frame available, the committee felt that the requirements could not be met.

“It is disappointing that the show is not going ahead but it must be stressed that this is due to a combination of circumstances including adverse ground conditions, and the difficulty of implementing the alternative requirements agreed with the council within the time scale available to the organisers.”