Remembrance parade must happen in Mexborough says councillor

That was the pledge from a Mexborough’s borough councillor after police and council officials pulled the plug on road closures for remembrance events.

Local politicians are calling for the decision to be reversed — but said they will make sure veterans and cadets could still march whatever.

At the moment, Royal British Legion members are planning a static servidce at Castle Hills Park with a “mini-parade” within the park rather than the usual march down Doncaster Road.

But Cllr Sean Gibbons insisted: “I will do everything in my power to make it (the usual parade) happen for the people of Mexborough to remember those who gave their tomorrow for our day.”

The need for new arrangements arose after Doncaster district commander Supt Neil Thomas told parish and borough councillors in April that the police could not manage or organise road closures and stop traffic.

Doncaster Council’s traffic manager, Lee Garrett, wrote to all councillors in June saying DMBC was in the same position.

Cllr Gibbons, of Mexborough First, said this week he and ward colleagues Bev Chapman and Andy Pickering had been pushing for a rethink, especially as Mexborough marking the centenary of the unveiling of its war memorial.

He pointed out the usual Remembrance Sunday service was usually well-attended, drawing people from surrounding villages including Harlington, Barnburgh, Cadeby, High Melton, Adwick-on-Dearne and often attracted several hundred people.

Police have previously stopped traffic for the parade and for two minutes’ silence outside Castle Hills Park.

In an email to police, council chief executive Damien Allen and police and crime commissioner Dr Alan Billings, Cllr Gibbons said councillors were keen

“to give our local young people in the army cadets, scouts, guides, Brownies etc, the opportunity to safely march down to the war memorial along with all other residents”.

He added: “We would respectfully ask that you reconsider the current decision and deploy the usual traffic management support and resources.

“If SYP are unable to commit to these usual limited resources this year then please let us have the associated costs for DMBC highways to manage the traffic for the short remembrance parade period and we will cover this amount from our ward member budgets.

“Alternatively, I will personally cover the associated costs from other means to ensure that the planned Remembrance parade goes ahead as usual.”

Volunteers, councillors and Royal British Legion members gathered last week for a litter pick and clean-up at the park, where trees have been decorated with knitted poppies, and where a new memorial bench will be on display.

Supt Thomas said in his message to parish councillors across the borough last April that while police had historically managed and implemented road closures, more recent guidance was their role at public events should be to prevent and detect crime, ensure public safety and coordinate emergency responses.

“Essentially, there is no power for police officers to lawfully perform the closures,” he said.

“Our presence at the events will only be in providing that visible community reassurance and ceremonial duties as part of the ceremony.”

In June, Doncaster Council’s traffic manager, Lee Garrett, wrote to all councillors saying DMBC was also not in a position to arrange road closures for parades.

“Twenty-two parades are known to the council and we do not have the resources, staff or logistical capability to manage the traffic management needs at them all,” he said.

Mr Garrett said local councillors would have to apply for their own closure orders and hire a traffic management company for the occasion.

A civic parade would take place in the city centre on Remembrance Sunday, Mr Garrett said.

Mick Reilly, of the Royal British Legion, said he was disappointed but the removal of police traffic management was in line with a national policy.

He said he wished the councillors luck but Legion guidance was not to organise their own road closures.

Mr Reilly said: “If there are road closures in place the police and local authority support then we will take part.”