LIVERPOOL Mayor Joe Anderson has urged the organisers of the city’s marathon to return to the negotiating table after they announced its cancellation.
Organisers Btr Liverpool announced the October showpiece would be cancelled after the council asked them to change the route so that it would not finish in the city centre.
In previous years, the marathon has finished on the Pier Head which meant The Strand had to be closed for hours on a Sunday causing problems for shoppers and traders.
The council had raised the possibility of reversing the marathon’s existing route so that it would begin in Liverpool city centre, before finishing in Wirral.
Mayor Anderson went on Twitter to voice his disappointment and surprise that the event had been cancelled after “a really positive meeting” during the week.
He said that the council had tried its hardest to accommodate the needs of the event which was expected to attract 4,000 runners.
He wrote on the social network: “We were surprised because earlier this week council staff met with the organisers and had a really positive meeting.
