Remembrance Sunday service will go ahead in Lymm

The Lymm South councillor, Graham Gowland, responded after organisers were recently informed that the RBL Remembrance Sunday services, would receive ‘no support’ from the police or council in providing temporary street closure measures.

Wayne Bibby, who is secretary of the Culcheth and district branch of the Royal British Legion, which organises the ceremony, also responded to this, claiming it was a ‘disgraceful’ and ‘disrespectful’ act from both the council and police.

In a statement, Cllr Gowland said how Lymm Parish Council is stepping in to meet the cost of £1,200 which will cover a contractor attending and putting up barriers and signage for road closures.

He said: “As both the chairman of the Lymm Branch of the RBL, and a parish and borough councillor, we have been aware of issues around road closures for several years.

“The RBL has discouraged branches from organising remembrance parades for 5 years, and instead ask local councils to take responsible for the delivery of Remembrance parades.

“The RBL has no insurance for such events, and does not allow branch funds to be used to organise parades.

“Since 2015 the police have been reluctant to provide cover to close the roads.

“We have met with the Local Police and requested our parade is policed.

“They advised us they would do their best to cover the parade, but we were only advised on the September 24 that they would not.

The Lymm branch of the Royal British Legion has reacted to the news

“Since then, the borough council has worked hard to arrange formal road closures, but the council’s power to close roads is very different to the police when supporting a parade, and requires a contractor to attend and put up barriers and signage – at a cost to Lymm of £1,200.

“The parish is stepping in and meeting this cost, but it is a shame we’ve not had the support of John Dwyer, the Police and Crime Commissioner to continue the traditional support of remembrance.

“We could simply tell the police in writing 6 days before the parade, and they would have responsibilities for it, but as a responsible organiser that would not be appropriate, especially as in Lymm part of the parade is along a Trunk Road.

“I have heard it commented that a small rise in council tax or parish precepts would cover it, but given the millions already taken from council budgets, this is yet another cut from local services.”

Cheshire Police’s assistant chief constable Jenny Sims and PCC John Dwyer responded in a joint statement.

The constabulary and commissioner said: “We recognise and understand that Remembrance Day parades are important community events that bring everyone together to commemorate those who have served our country and sacrificed their lives on our behalf.

“We would like to provide our personal assurance that Cheshire Police will work with partners and communities in order to ensure that planned Remembrance Day ceremonies and parades are able to go ahead.

 

“In 2017, it was identified and agreed with local authorities that Remembrance Day parades should go through the safety advisory groups in line with other pre-planned events as the responsibility and legal powers for pre-planned traffic management lies with local authorities and event organisers.

“Each local authority has been contacted again this year in ample time so that the requisite plans can be agreed through the safety advisory groups.

“Every year, Cheshire has approximately 70 Remembrance Sunday parades and we will ensure that there is a policing presence.

“However, we do not have the legal powers to implement pre-planned road closures so can’t provide traffic management duties at these parades unless it is required spontaneously – for which we have specific policing powers.

“We would like to reassure residents that local officers and senior leaders will continue to be present at this year’s parades.

“These are big community events and local policing teams are very much a part of that community.

“They will play an active role engaging with local people and provide a visible police presence in order to support the organisers whilst paying their respects and remembering those who lost their lives.”