Council flexes its muscles on safety

THEY may not possess all-action nicknames or sport colourful spandex, but Tiverton town councillors could be about to put up a challenge which a group of muscle-bound wrestlers cannot defeat.

The Devon Wrestling Association has held two packed events in the New Hall at Tiverton this year, but organisers are now grappling with the council over safety concerns for any potential future visits.

Members say damage was caused to the New Hall floor during the most recent visit by the glitzy spectacle of the larger Frontier Wrestling Alliance (FWA) on July 31, and certain wrestling moves may have to be restricted if the towering powerhouses are to return.

Town clerk John Vanderwolfe said although he had not attended the event, he understood one of the competitors was picked up and hurled across the ring, the impact of his landing subsequently damaging the floor.

A metal plate has been put in to reinforce the damaged area — less than 1ft square — as a temporary measure, but more lasting repairs will need to be carried out.

Councillors were concerned about the strain the heavy-duty, roped, cushioned ring was having on the floor, and were fearful that a spring could have come out of the floor and posed a hazard to the audience.

Mr Vanderwolfe said: “I am not happy to have another wrestling match until we have had a full risk assessment of the use of such a heavy ring in the New Hall.”

He said a provisional booking had been made for one further wrestling match at the New Hall, but he was not sure this could be honoured until the required checks had been carried out, reminding councillors that the “safety of staff and customers was of paramount importance”.

Councillors from the council’s finance and general purpose committee heard about the problems at their meeting in the town hall on Monday, August 9.

The wrestling events held in May and at the end of last month have been organised by Tiverton-born wrestler Joel Redman.

Joel, who founded the DWA, has wrestled professionally throughout Europe, and has attracted stars of British wrestling such as Martin Stone, Nick Riley and RJ Singh.

The FWA wrestlers say they are fighting to keep British wrestling strong and return it to the glory of the 1970s and 1980s when it was a regular TV feature on Saturday afternoons.

The council has written to the organisers, who were unavailable to comment to the