Express & Star

Remembrance Day parade routes: Councillor demands end to cost-cutting changes

A cost-cutting plan to re-route parades on Remembrance Day in Walsall should be dropped after a funding boost for West Midlands police, a community leader has demanded.

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All 11 parades, which will take place in Darlaston, Aldridge, Bloxwich and Pelsall will go ahead this year – but the routes will be changed due to fewer police officers available.

There will be around 39 officers available to close roads and divert traffic, compared to 72 last year, due to a lack of money.

However, in light of news that West Midlands Police will receive £36.9 million after a U-turn by the Home Office over funding, Darlaston South councillor Doug James has called for a rethink on the Walsall Remembrance Day parades move.

The councillor is trying to arrange a meeting with West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson over the coming weeks and has asked for people from the community to support him.

He said: "The West Midlands Crime Commissioner David Jamieson has welcomed the fairer deal as a victory for common sense.

"Yes, the Government needs to consider how much money police forces require to keep people safe rather than administer arbitrary cuts.

"Now additional resources have been confirmed I am demanding that the Police Commissioner practices what he has preached.

The Remembrance Day parade in Walsall town centre would be one of 11 affected by changes

"Police have carried out a faux consultation on the traditional routes knowing all along that they would impose these changes.

"I am taking a stand on this one because I believe we should be able to get a ring fenced number of officers to help maintain these traditional parade routes.

"It isn't an arduous task, to help make sure traffic doesn't affect a parade to honour war heroes.

"My concern is that if this is just the start. A few years down the line, will the police be saying that they can't attend these events at all?"

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson encouraged councillor James to bring his concerns forward.

He said: "Despite last week's announcement, we are not yet out of the woods when it comes to austerity cuts.

"There is still much to be done on the fight for fairer funding to make sure that the government delivers this new funding formula and that 40 per cent cuts to policing do not come in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

"I would welcome Councillor James' involvement in the campaign to ensure that West Midlands Police receives the money it needs.

"Although Councillor James has not yet requested a meeting with me, his enthusiastic support would be very much welcome."

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