Memorial parades facing crippling costs

The costs involved in honouring the region's war dead have, in some cases, doubled because of rising insurance premiums and fees for enforced road closures.

Organisers have criticised the "crippling costs" and said their efforts were being hampered by an increasing amount of red tape -designed to cut the risk of compensation claims.

Two councils in Teesdale, County Durham, have already faced increased costs after they had to apply for road closure orders.

They may have to hire professional traffic management companies to put up signs to notify drivers of the closures.

Barnard Castle Town Council estimates it will spend an extra £200 to £300 to carry out the road closure order for its Remembrance Sunday parade -almost doubling its £350 budget.

Barnard Castle Mayor John Watson said: "It does seem rather a strong approach and does make quite a big impact on the budget."

Middleton-in-Teesdale Parish Council must also apply for road closure orders for its ten-minute ceremony.

Parish council chairwoman Diana Mahood said: "I think the bureaucracy over health and safety issues is going a little bit to the extreme.

"No community group should have to jump through such hoops or face such crippling charges."

Bev McMahon, who organises Remembrance services in Willington, Hunwick and Helmington Row, in Wear Valley, County Durham, said she was having to pay £150 to £200 for insurance for parades.

She said: "The British Legion do not cover that, they do not have the funds."

RAF veteran Fred Chatwin, 80, from Normanby, near Middlesbrough, who was shot down over Germany, said: "It seems very odd and it should not be that they are forced to close. It is still very important that people get to remember."

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Mark Colacicchi, of the Royal British Legion in the North-East, said: "Although the organisers may have to pay out more, hopefully next year they can build these things into their budget."