Remembrance Day Parade in Penarth could still go ahead

By Kieran Molloy

2 minutes read

THIS year’s Penarth Remembrance Day Parade on Sunday 8th November appears to be going ahead after a last-minute scare earlier this week.

It follows an announcement on the Penarth Remembrance Sunday Facebook group, saying that the Veteran’s Parade Committee could not secure a road closure order, which meant that the parade could not go ahead safely.

The entrance to Alexandra Park in Penarth. Image by Google Street View. — **| The entrance to Alexandra Park in Penarth.** *Image: Google.*

The angry and disappointed veterans said they intended to gather “informally” to lay wreaths at 10am on 8th November at the cenotaph in Alexandra Park, adding: “Our veterans should not have to fight the system they served to protect.

“These are men and women who answered the call when their country needed them. They served in dangerous places. They endured hardship, separation, fear and loss. Some came home carrying wounds that cannot be seen.

“And now, years later, we expect them to battle bureaucracy just to hold a Remembrance parade?”

According to the same post, the application for a road closure order was made on 31st July of this year.

A spokesperson for the Vale Council said: “We recognise how deeply important Remembrance is to veterans, their families and communities across the Vale. We are proud to support different communities across the Vale to remember the sacrifice made by others.

“The Penarth Remembrance Parade has over the years been an important opportunity for people to come together to honour those who have served and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

“We actively support event organisers who are responsible for making arrangements including traffic management measures required to ensure public safety. The council’s role is to provide advice on how to put in place Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders.

“Discussions with local partners in Penarth are ongoing and we remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached.”

On Thursday morning, a joint statement from Penarth Town Council, the Vale Council and Penarth Veterans Remembrance Parade Committee as released. It said: “Penarth Town Council and the Vale Council are working alongside the Penarth Veterans Remembrance Parade Committee to ensure the town’s annual Remembrance Day Parade can take place as normal.

“Alternative Traffic Management arrangements were needed and work towards this is progressing well, with details close to being finalised.

“With these matters nearly concluded, we are hopeful firm arrangements regarding this important event can be announced very soon.”

By Kieran Molloy, Local Democracy Reporter.

Additional reporting by Glamorgan Star staff.

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