British Touring Car Championship event at Knockhill race circuit: FOI release

Information requested

1. is Knockhill the largest site that applied as a test for spectators?

2. what were the key criteria that contributed to allocating 200 spectators to a site in excess of 200 acres?

3. what were the factors in the risk analysis that suggested 200 would be the maximum for an outdoor event?

4. what weighting was applied to the size of the location, so that a smaller site, eg football pitch, could be compared to a much larger site such as Knockhill.

5. what unique factors of the outdoor circuit impacted the decision to only allow 200 attend this event.

Response

1. is Knockhill the largest site that applied as a test for spectators?
Response: There is no formal application process for test events but we have been working with a range of event organisers with a view to identifying a programme of outdoor pilot events. The Scottish Government appreciates the disappointment that these difficult decisions cause for people who want to attend outdoor events. However, as the First Minister has repeatedly stressed, Covid-19 is still a significant risk to public health and we have to be cautious to minimise the potential for further outbreaks. However, we are considering a number of test events in a variety of settings to take place over the coming weeks.

2. what were the key criteria that contributed to allocating 200 spectators to a site in excess of 200 acres?
3. what were the factors in the risk analysis that suggested 200 would be the maximum for an outdoor event?
4. what weighting was applied to the size of the location, so that a smaller site, eg football pitch, could be compared to a much larger site such as Knockhill.
5. what unique factors of the outdoor circuit impacted the decision to only allow 200 attend this event
.
Questions 2-5. All of these questions refer to criteria for determining a limit of 200 spectators for events taking place at sites such as Knockhill. The spectator threshold for outdoor events was not determined on the basis of the size or area of a venue. Nor was the assessment made in relation to particular events but on the basis of an evaluation of the impact of holding outdoor events in general. The assessment involved an overall evaluation of transmission risk, health impact, societal impact and economic impact at outdoor events.

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