Saturday 2nd October 2010
14.00
In accordance with Section 11 Public Order Act 1986, I have informed Essex Police that the Carnival Procession will go ahead through the town centre on the afternoon of Saturday 2nd October 2010. We start at 14.00.
Regrettably this is without a road closure order, which is an inconvenience but we will survive and have a great day.
Anyone wishing to join us please email ian@elitemagazine.co.uk or telephone 01206 500543*.
The three agencies involved Colchester Borough Council, Essex County Council and Essex Police were unable to grant the closure due to their time deadlines. In hindsight once we had to move our set up from Goojerat Barracks to Hyderabad and Meanee Barracks we were never going to meet their inflexible time constraints. For reasons best known to them they appear to need everything nailed down a good 6 weeks in advance before they will even consider the application.
You will hear comments about health and safety concerns but we have the best security firm operating in Colchester on board. We ran a totally incident free road closure last year, yet the number in the crowds last year appear to have caused them concern.
The three agencies are very methodical in a nanny state fashion, with a time frame that is never made clear at the outset. September 4th road closure application was refused on the Wednesday 18th August @ 18.00 (17 days) yet October 2nd was refused on the 9th September 16.00(23 days) on both occasions, the reason given was we missed their deadlines, Police, Fire and Ambulance services along with the bus companies were all fully aware of our intention, so who else needed informing? Everyone in Colchester knew we planned a Carnival this year.
If the new ConLib administration want to save money try speeding up the processes, bureaucracy and red tape cost a small fortune. Times have changed communication is quicker antiquated time frames belong to yesteryear not 2010!
Trust the residents of Colchester we are not that stupid, we can walk through the town and not hurt ourselves or anyone else!
*Anyone entering does so at their own risk!