Reminder on Carmarthenshire Remembrance parades
Dyfed-Powys Police in Carmarthenshire are advising organisers planning parades for this year’s Remembrance Sunday (Nov 14) that they will need to get a licence for any road closures.
Previously the police have temporarily closed roads to enable Armistice parades to take place county-wide.
The police have powers to close roads in an emergency.
However, these events are pre-planned in advance, so the use of their "emergency" powers could be called into question.
Such powers are more appropriate for genuine emergencies such as a collapsed structure or following a road traffic accident.
Carmarthenshire County Council as the highway authority can arrange for temporary road closures, and this is seen by the police as a more appropriate way in dealing with such events.
County executive board member for transport services Cllr Philip Hughes said: “We will be having further discussions with the police over this issue. In the meantime we will work with event organisers in relation to the temporary road closures required for the Armistice parades.”
Police Superintendent Alun Harries said: “Road closures for planned events can not be undertaken using emergency police powers any more.
“Now organisers need to have them authorised by the appropriate highways authority and in our case that would be Carmarthenshire Council.
“The police will clearly work very closely with those arranging Remembrance Day parades to ensure that they continue to run as smoothly as possible.
This year’s parades will be held on Sunday 14th November.
Organisers apply for road closure orders from the highways authority.
“Any event which takes place on roads which need to be closed has to go through this process,” added Superintendent Harries.
“If this is not complied with, it makes the road closure illegal, with the organisers becoming liable for any injury or damage caused as a result. We have written to the organisers of all local Remembrance Day parades advising them that they need to go through this process.”
Previously the police have temporarily closed roads to enable Armistice parades to take place county-wide.
The police have powers to close roads in an emergency.
However, these events are pre-planned in advance, so the use of their "emergency" powers could be called into question.
Such powers are more appropriate for genuine emergencies such as a collapsed structure or following a road traffic accident.
Carmarthenshire County Council as the highway authority can arrange for temporary road closures, and this is seen by the police as a more appropriate way in dealing with such events.
County executive board member for transport services Cllr Philip Hughes said: “We will be having further discussions with the police over this issue. In the meantime we will work with event organisers in relation to the temporary road closures required for the Armistice parades.”
Police Superintendent Alun Harries said: “Road closures for planned events can not be undertaken using emergency police powers any more.
“Now organisers need to have them authorised by the appropriate highways authority and in our case that would be Carmarthenshire Council.
“The police will clearly work very closely with those arranging Remembrance Day parades to ensure that they continue to run as smoothly as possible.
This year’s parades will be held on Sunday 14th November.
Organisers apply for road closure orders from the highways authority.
“Any event which takes place on roads which need to be closed has to go through this process,” added Superintendent Harries.
“If this is not complied with, it makes the road closure illegal, with the organisers becoming liable for any injury or damage caused as a result. We have written to the organisers of all local Remembrance Day parades advising them that they need to go through this process.”
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