Cheltenham Festival 2026: Council Steps up Safety Drive with ‘War on Wee’ Campaign
4 minutes More than 220,000 racegoers are expected to descend on Cheltenham Racecourse across the four days from Tuesday 10 March
With the Cheltenham Festival now less than a fortnight away, Cheltenham Borough Council has unveiled a fresh package of safety and cleanliness measures — including the return of its much-publicised ‘War on Wee’.
More than 220,000 racegoers are expected to descend on Cheltenham Racecourse across the four days from Tuesday 10 March, placing the town firmly at the centre of the sporting world. In response, the council is working alongside Gloucestershire Police, the racecourse and other partners to manage crowds, tackle anti-social behaviour and maintain standards in the town centre.
Among the measures confirmed are:
• ‘Keep it Clean’, ‘War on Wee’, ‘Ask for Angela’ and ‘Love our Turf’ campaigns• Extra temporary toilets positioned around the town• Increased police patrols, including a community hub on the High Street and mounted officers on all four evenings• Dedicated council officers and racecourse stewards at key locations• Support from voluntary sector partners in the evening and night-time economy• Taxi marshals operating at Montpellier and Promenade ranks• A targeted cleaning operation focused on known hotspots
The ‘War on Wee’ initiative, first introduced in recent years, follows widespread criticism after images from the 2022 Festival showed racegoers urinating in public areas, notably in Pittville Park. The council has again prioritised additional toilet facilities in an effort to prevent a repeat.
Councillor Victoria Atherstone, cabinet member for safety and communities, said: “The March festival is an incredibly important occasion for Cheltenham, and we’re pleased to once again warmly welcome racegoers and visitors to our town.
“During race week, we’ll continue our efforts to help keep Cheltenham clean and welcoming, while addressing key issues such as illegal taxi activity and anti-social behaviour.
“Keeping women and girls safe remains a central focus. Licensed venues are supporting the ‘Ask for Angela’ initiative to ensure anyone who feels unsafe or vulnerable can access help quickly and discreetly.
“Gloucestershire Police will also be carrying out Operation Vigilant, which involves a mix of plain-clothed and uniformed officers identifying individuals displaying signs of predatory behaviour.”
Superintendent James Glansfield, of the Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Local Policing Area, added: “We are working alongside partner agencies and Cheltenham Racecourse in planning for the event.
“Officers will be taking part in additional patrols, during both the day and night, as our main aim is to ensure that racegoers and those living in Cheltenham are able to enjoy themselves, but are also responsible and stay safe. I’d like to ask those attending to please keep this in mind.
“I’d like to encourage anyone with serious concerns to report these to an officer or call 101. Any emergencies should be reported by calling 999, and this includes incidents where there’s a threat to life, risk of harm, a crime is in progress, or offenders are nearby.”
Andre Klein, assistant general manager of Cheltenham Racecourse, said: “The Cheltenham Festival is an incredible occasion that sees Cheltenham become the centre of the sporting world for four days each March. At the racecourse, we are committed to ensuring the Festival is an enjoyable and safe event for our local residents as well as our racegoers.
“By working closely with our local partners, our ‘Love our Turf’ campaign will return once again to help ensure that racegoers heading into town have a positive experience, while minimising disruption to local residents. We want the Cheltenham Festival to be an event we can all be proud to host as we welcome thousands of visitors to this great town.”
Guy Lavender, CEO of Cheltenham Racecourse, echoed that message:
“Our neighbours are really important to us, as are the local community. We have a number of community groups and work closely with the council and representative bodies to make sure that we do everything we can.
“There’s a huge team that are out outside the racecourse, making sure that we minimise the incidents of anti-social behaviour. There are lots of loos provided to make sure that race-goers have somewhere convenient to stop on the way to the racecourse.
“There’s a whole range of practical measures. There’s a helpline for residents to phone if there’s a problem that they want us to address.
“Whilst it’s not always perfect, I think there’s a general recognition amongst residents that we are responsive, communicative, and making sure we look after them in the widest possible sense. We did it last year, and we’ll do it again this year, and that’s important because we want to be good neighbours.”
For racing fans heading to Prestbury Park, the message is clear: enjoy the sport, respect the town and expect a visible presence both on and off the track throughout Festival week.