A PARISH council says it has been left with no choice but to cancel its usual Remembrance parade this Sunday over traffic management restrictions.

Barnton Parish Council will hold its usual Remembrance service at Christ Church where residents can lay wreaths – but there will be no service at the war memorial on Jubilee Corner.

It comes after Cheshire Police decided to cut the number of officers available to provide traffic management at Remembrance events this year following a review.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has offered to close a part of Townfield Lane next to the war memorial, but not the rest of the route from Christ Church, so the parish council has decided to hold just the service at the church.

Cllr Dilys Hooper, member of both Barnton Parish Council and the Royal British Legion, said: “It throws a shadow over the fact that we are supposed to be remembering the fallen.

Northwich Guardian:

“This year is the 75th anniversary of the D Day landings, where an awful lot of people were lost, and I just feel that this is an insult to them.

“They are letting the public down who have people they want to remember – it is not the parish council they are letting down, it is the public.

“This is for Remembrance and you cannot put a price on that.”

Town and parish councils were made aware of the Cheshire Police review in late September, and Barnton Parish Council says it has been unable to plan and fund alternative traffic management for the parade route in that time.

The move has seen some parade routes shortened, such as Winsford’s, while other parish councils have stumped up funds to support their event – with Weaverham paying £600 for alternative traffic management arrangements.

Other Remembrance parades around Northwich are going ahead as usual.

A CWAC spokesman said: “The council is committed to ensuring that all acts of Remembrance and the laying of wreaths are protected across the borough.

“Following a review of traffic management resources this year, it was understood that traffic management to protect the Barnton annual Remembrance parade was only required beside the cenotaph.

“A road closure will be in place beside the memorial to ensure the safety of the public while acts of Remembrance and laying of wreaths is taking place.”

Cheshire Police says it is committed to ensuring Remembrance Sunday events can take place, but that it is more appropriate for event organisers to apply for road closures through CWAC, rather than using its officers.

The force is supplying more than 230 officers and PCSOs to 69 events across the county.

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Burton said: “I would like to provide my personal assurance that Cheshire Constabulary is working closely with partners and communities in order to ensure that planned Remembrance Day ceremonies and parades are able to go ahead.

Northwich Guardian:

“Ensuring Remembrance events take place so that people are able to commemorate those who gave their lives is really important to us, and at many of the events our officers will pay their own respects.

“However, it is also important that we use our resources appropriately. In relation to the parade in Barnton, traffic management for this event is being dealt with by the local authority and parish council.

“We would like to reassure the community that, although there is no requirement for police to manage traffic, officers will still be present at the ceremony.”

David Keane, Cheshire’s police and crime commissioner, added that Remembrance is a ‘priority for local residents’ and he will be discussing the force’s management of events at a scrutiny meeting with Chief Constable Darren Martland next week.