AN OFF-road event which was to take place in Highland Perthshire has been cancelled due to a conflict about safety rules.

The Tay Forest Challenge, planned for September 4 to 6, was to feature 4x4s negotiating trees, slopes and rocks.

However, organisers last night said new Forestry Commission Scotland rules “neutered” the event and they have cancelled it.

The Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) said they had to protect wildlife, the public and water courses.

New conditions were introduced, which stated that crews, including the marshals, had to stay in the vehicle while it was moving, that soft, boggy or wet ground could not be used, watercourses had to be avoided and that they had to steer clear of windy areas.

Organisers Scotia Winch Challenge Club (SWCC) said they had run such contests for about eight years without any problems.

But last night they hit out at having to cancel and put the blame firmly at the door of the FCS.

A spokesman for the Scotia Winch Challenge Club said, “We appreciate the inconvenience of cancellation at this late stage.

“However, having spent the last two months attempting to negotiate a reasonable compromise, we have now run out of time and have no choice but to cancel.

“We have no confidence that FCS will not simply change the conditions again once they see the routes we have set and that we will be arguing about it to the last minute with the risk the event would not be run to our normal challenging standards.”

The club also feel local businesses will lose out because of the cancellation.

The spokesman said, “SWCC has, as a main aim, to organise winch challenge events in Scotland, with all surplus proceeds being given to charity and so far has given over £10,000 to charities local to the events.

“It is not just the financial loss, it is ironic that during the Year of Homecoming we are prevented from running an event that has a worldwide following and has raised Scotland’s profile in the 4x4 world.”

A spokesman for Forestry Commission Scotland, said, “We held constructive discussions with the organisers to ensure that the event was safe—for participants, marshals and any members of the public who strayed into the area—and that the event would not result in any damage to biodiversity or any sensitive habitats.

“We offered some constructive advice to help the organisers address these issues.”