Filey Town Council Steps in to Secure Remembrance Day Event

Filey Town council has agreed to take on traffic management responsibility for the town's remembrance day event.

It comes as after North Yorkshire Police said they they are no longer able to provide the service following new policing guidelines.

Filey's Royal British Legion made an appeal for help at this weeks council meeting after the police said they could no longer provide traffic management.

The Royal British Legion said they are unable to apply for the necessary road closures, something the town council can do at no cost, but in addition there would be a need to employ a traffic management company to put out closure signs and marshal the road closure, the cost of that was unknown with one suggestion being that it could be £600 and anther than it could be £4000.

Despite the uncertainty around the cost councillor Gary Howgate felt there was little alternative but for the town council to take on the responsibility.

Councillor Karen Hubbard backed the proposal but expressed concern over the costs being left to parish councils to pick up.

Last month North Yorkshire Police announced they will no longer be able to provide traffic management for remembrance events across the county.

Changes to the law back in 2004 made traffic management the responsibility of the local council and event organisers rather than the police.

Assistant Chief Constable - Elliot Foskett - say North Yorkshire Police had continued providing the service up 'til now but says new guidance has lead them to make the change this year.

ACC Foskett says the changes to the legislation around traffic management for events were made nearly twenty years ago but different police forces took different approaches to the change.

Assistant Chief Constable Elliot Foskett said:

“It is true, however, that we have had to make the difficult but lawful decision to cease providing traffic management support to 32 smaller Remembrance Day events in North Yorkshire and the City of York.

“Under the Traffic Management Act 2004, which placed the responsibility on the Local Authority and event organisers, the larger Remembrance Day events in our area have utilised traffic management companies to ensure public safety.

“However, for many years, North Yorkshire Police has continued to provide a traffic management function to the smaller Remembrance Day events.

“In line with the legislation, the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing have stressed that policing should not take responsibility for closing roads or managing traffic, other than in an emergency.

“This is to make sure police resources remain focused on tackling crime and anti-social behaviour. 

“With immediate effect, North Yorkshire Police has repositioned to fully comply and will not be undertaking routine traffic management for any Remembrance Day events in 2023 and in subsequent years.

“We may, of course, still sometimes need to carry out or supplement road closures with police resources where this is necessary to discharge our core responsibilities, such as counter terrorism activity.

“We are working closely with North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council to assist the affected event organisers to put in place the necessary arrangements in time for November, including obtaining a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order.

“The upset caused by this change is fully understandable, but it is categorically wrong to suggest North Yorkshire Police no longer supports Remembrance Day.

“We simply could not continue to act outside of the legislation and national police guidance.”

North Yorkshire Police says it's officers will continue to attend remembrance events to lay wreaths and pay respects.