That’s steep! Kiwis cry foul at losing title to street in Wales

WHEN it emerged on Monday that New Zealand’s cruel Cricket World Cup final defeat to England came via a disputed run that should never have been given, Kiwis remained stoic.

But little did they know worse was to come.

In equally controversial circumstances, the nation has now lost its claim to have the world’s steepest street – and this time, they are alleging foul play.

They dispute the Guinness World Records’ decision to award Ffordd Pen Llech in Harlech, North Wales, the title instead, claiming it shouldn’t count as a street because it doesn’t allow two-lane traffic.

New measurements revealed it had a gradient of 37 per cent – 2 per cent steeper than Baldwin Street in Dunedin, which has held the title for the past 32 years. However, a Baldwin Street resident has cast doubts over the Welsh road’s eligibility for the record.

“They are two completely different streets, the one in Wales is not twoway all the way through and not heavily populated like Baldwin Street,” Colleen Williamson told New Zealand media. She pointed out that Ffordd Pen Llech is a meandering, narrow, residential lane. Critics disputed the Welsh win online, with one writing: “By definition the street in Wales is a lane, not a street. It a single lane with no footpaths or parking.”

“That’s not a street, that’s a goat track. Most proportions are hardly enough room for one car. I’m sure we have farmland with tracks on it steeper and more comparable to a road,” another disgruntled Kiwi said.

Craig Glenday, Guinness World Records editor, last night insisted Ffordd Pen Llech was the rightful record holder: “For the purposes of this record, a ‘street’ or ‘road’ is defined as a thoroughfare which is used by the public who have right of access to drive vehicles along it to get from one destination to another.”

“I feel sorry for Baldwin Street and the New Zealanders, but steeper is steeper,” said Gwyn Headley, who campaigned for the Welsh street. “At least they have the Rugby World Cup ... for the moment .... ”