Sir,

Further to my recent letter regarding the noise disturbance and litter from Ironman in New Hedges, it was good to receive a response last week from Cardiff [‘Sad Rant’] agreeing with my observations that charities and local businesses benefit from the event.

But it appears the correspondent is unaware of the extent of distress that Ironman brings to large sections of elderly, vulnerable and disabled people living in the vicinity of the race. Many elderly occupants of properties near the start and finish lines in Tenby say that the constant noise from loudspeakers and onlookers is unbearable and the jostling crowds make them too frightened to go out on race day and the day before, with some residents coming close to being knocked over.

In no way is this the fault of the athletes or their supporters - after all, you cannot expect thoroughbreds to stand still before a race, nor their spectators to remain calm. So it is ludicrous to site the starting post, finish line and armband lap station in areas of a high elderly demographic and demonstrates a worrying lack of consideration on the part of the Ironman organisers who know that loud music and noise are part and parcel of the race.

There is a terrible irony that the charity funds raised by Ironman, for so many good causes, are generated at the expense of vulnerable residents along the route.

This could easily be resolved by having the start and finish posts in less populated areas, such as the Salterns car park and/or the North Beach car park. And if the music has to stay loud and late into the night, then move the armband lap station from New Hedges to another district, perhaps Penally at the chip van lay-by on the main road or past Gumfreston with a turn-around by the Dinosaur Park.

We shall have Ironman for another five years, so it’s time to get this sorted, maintaining the maximum benefits, but with the minimum disruption. Those who bring huge events like Ironman and other big races into the area also have huge responsibilities to ensure the protection of residents.

Correspondents on this subject can mock complainants as much as they wish - derision is a powerful weapon to keep the populace amused and the fearful silent, but name-calling and poking fun at distressed folk is not very clever. Vulnerable people have rights and it’s time for the Ironman organisers to get their house in order and put these route problems right.

Name and

address withheld