Police will not stop traffic for festivals
Police say they will no longer stop traffic for processions and carnivals in the county.
Instead, organisers face paying for road closures – even if it’s only for half-an-hour.
The news was announced at a special meeting in Tewkesbury to discuss the requirements needed to organise events in the town.
It came about as the result of a procession held last July to mark the 25th anniversary of Tewkesbury Medieval Festival.
Organiser Geoff Pope was told just three weeks before it was due to take place that police couldn’t support it, despite telling officers several months before the event.
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Now the future of the festival and other events, such as Tewkesbury’s Mop Fair and the half-marathon, have been thrown into doubt.
Organisers have always had to pay for road closures, but for smaller events police would often just hold up traffic to let processions through.
Chief Inspector Paul Morrissey said: “The days when we could just hold up our hand and say stop while a procession went past are long gone.”
Event organisers will have to apply to Gloucestershire County Council for a road closure costing between £600 and £1,200 instead, he said.
Alternatively, they could pay for police cover – with PCSOs costing £25 an hour each for a minimum of four hours and PCs and higher ranked officers costing considerably more.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Pope said: “It all comes down to road closures. The county council need to be informed if the road needs to be shut for three or four hours but for something like the festival we only need to use the road for half-an-hour and we don’t really think a road closure is needed.
“At the end of the day we just want to secure the future of the Medieval Festival and other processions, including that of Remembrance day.
“We want to make sure it all goes ahead legally and the police don’t pull out at the last minute.
“We need some clear guidance on the best way to go about this.”
Borough mayor Brian Calway said: “The police seem to be distancing themselves from community events.
“I’m concerned there’s a reluctance by them to assist in something like the Medieval Festival and other events and I speak as a former police inspector who used to arrange and facilitate such things.
“They are there for the community, not just emergencies. I’m appalled at the bureaucracy these things could take to get off the ground.”
Speaking afterwards, Chief Insp Morrissey said: “The purpose of the meeting was to give everyone attending the opportunity to discuss the requirements needed to organise events in the town so that they run smoothly, legally and safely, not only for those involved but for the community as a whole.
“One idea that we suggested at the meeting was the establishment of a safety advisory group for individuals who want to plan processions and events in Tewkesbury to offer them support on the logistics, such as contacting the local authority to arrange a road closure.
“We are fully in support of events and processions in the town and regularly work with organisers to advise and support them and ensure the safety of those involved.”
Source: This is Gloucestershire
Category: Event Traffic Management
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Adam Parry is the editor for Event Industry News. If you would like to get in touch and learn more about Event Industry News email editor@eventindustrynews.co.uk.Subscribe
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