Council ‘wokery’ claims after volunteers told to pay £1k for Remembrance parade | UK | News
Local council officials have been accused of “over-vigilance” after organizers of Sunday’s Remembrance March were told they would have to spend £1,000 on a security escort. Organizers said the parade in the Lancashire villages of Billington and Langho is planned to be held in 2024, using the same volunteers they proposed to use this year.
Ribble Valley District Council announced that it could not allow the event following the decision taken by the Safety Advisory Group (SAG). Organizers said their application for voluntary safety measures was rejected due to a technical problem with the certificate. In a post on Facebook, they said: “Last year, we organized a safe, well-led and managed parade by a team of volunteers dedicated to honoring the brave men, women and animals who lost their lives while securing the future of millions of people, enabling us and our families to live in freedom, with democracy and opportunity for all.”
“Our road closure was managed by a company with 53 years of experience in road transport/escort and road closure management and I am sure you will all agree – they did a great job ensuring safety, reducing traffic congestion and ensuring the parade went ahead without any disruptions. Plus they offered their services for FREE.
“Finally, our application was rejected before the end of the weeks, due to the fact that our company, which has 53 years of history, success and experience, did not have a certificate. This company had organized it the previous year too!!
“These are sad times when ‘certification’ means more than experience, evidence and reputation.”
Organizers announced they had no choice but to spend £1,000 on a different traffic management company to ensure the parade went ahead.
They said they would have to spend all the money raised for the event over the next two years to pay the fee.
“This is a disgrace,” they added.
Conservative councilor Tony Austin, who attended the event, criticized the decision, calling it “over-wokeness”.
To talk LancsLiveHe said he suspected that the car accident incident at Liverpool FC’s championship ceremony in May may have been one of the factors behind the decision.
He added: “The fact that others can hold huge Gaza-related demonstrations in major cities, despite official disapproval, is at everyone’s throat. Do you remember the demonstration in London last year during the Remembrance Parade at Whitehall, despite official disapproval? This is an outrageous ‘joke’.”
A Ribble Valley Council spokesman said: “Our top priority is to ensure the safety of everyone attending this event. The council’s safety advisory group can only advise on public safety matters. It works closely with partners such as the police, fire and ambulance services and Lancashire County Council, providing advice to event organizers where appropriate.
“Tighter rules have been introduced nationally to improve the safety of those attending public events, particularly on the motorway network.
“The watchdog advised the organizers of the Billington commemorative march that they should have a traffic management plan in place for the temporary closure of the road to protect those attending the event. Organizers of other similar commemorative events in the borough have also introduced such traffic management arrangements.”
