EARL Beauchamp bequeathed Pitchcroft to the people of Worcester around 1898, for their use and enjoyment, in perpetuity.
The process of separating Worcester people from their "ownership" of Pitchcroft began to accelerate in the late 1980s when the memorial plaque, celebrating and defining Earl Beauchamp's gift to the people of Worcester, was "torched off" the Croft Road main gate to Pitchcroft.
I can only assume that action was taken by our city council.
Access to Pitchcroft by the people of Worcester cannot be legally restricted. The people of Worcester can do anything they like on Pitchcroft, short of building permanent structures.
That means they can walk, exercise their dogs, fish, ride, camp, moor boats, drive their carriages (cars) to the river bank, and generally use Pitchcroft as an extension of their own backyard.
No one can restrict access, unless it's in the interests of Worcester people to do so.
That means it is proper for the council to restrict "travellers", but not Worcester people.
Racing is allowed on Pitchcroft because of "custom and practice". Charging Worcester people an entrance fee is probably illegal, as is the assumption by security personnel that they have a lawful right to restrict access by Worcester people on race days.
Charging for car parking is illegal, unless the monies raised go into a fund, for the care and maintenance of Pitchcroft.
I have written this letter so those "managing" Pitchcroft can tell me I'm wrong, I suspect they will remain silent. They want we, the people, to forget that we "own" Pitchcroft.
N TAYLOR,
Worcester
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