Town Council u-turn over parade route

Welshpool’s ex-servicemen and women will march through the town centre on Remembrance Sunday after all, following a town council u-turn.

Readers of mywelshpool were angered after we broke the news yesterday (Thursday) that because of the one-way system, the November 13 parade would be taken down the Back Road instead of Broad Street and veterans threatened a boycott.

But this afternoon the Town Council announced that it has listened to the response and has decided that they will plan for the original route now instead.

Town Clerk Robert Robinson said: “I have received confirmation from the Neighbourhood Policing Team that the Police are willing to marshal the Remembrance Parade which could allow it to go along Broad Street and Church Street to St Mary’s. This would only apply to Remembrance Parade and not to any other parades which will still be marshalled by the Town Council.

“I have considered the situation and consulted with the Mayor and local British Legion Branch before making a decision on the route to be taken to church on Remembrance Sunday. The main consideration has to be health and safety with the new one-way system in place.  The decision has been taken to allow the parade to return to the old route to church with the proviso that if for any reason the Police are called away it will go to a route around the one-way system and not against the traffic flow. I will make that decision on the morning of the parade and all things being well, with Police presence, the old route can be restored.

“The Council thanks the Police for their offer to help and will do what we can to recognise the importance of Remembrance events.”