by Hayley Robinson

For the first time in more than 35 years a Scout group’s parade won’t go ahead because of issues surrounding road closures.

More than 450 people were expected to take part in the St George’s Day procession which was due to set off from Swale Council’s car park in East Street, Sittingbourne, this Sunday.

Participants would have then made their way along the High Street, up Central Avenue and across Avenue of Remembrance to Borden Grammar School’s playing field for an inspection and service.

But organisers Sittingbourne and Milton District Scout Group were forced to cancel the march after they were told by the police they had no legal powers to close roads and direct traffic.

District commissioner Paul Austin said: "The Scout Association made applications in January to both the council and the police for our parade to follow our normal route.

"We made contact with the police to confirm all was still in order. The police informed us that due to an administrative error at their end, they had not progressed our request, and therefore because they had not approved the request the council had also not progressed the matter.

"The police then went onto explain that due to new guidance issued by their legal department and the Association of Chief Police Officers they were no longer able to support events such as ours."

A Swale council spokesman said the authority was advised by police not to grant the road closure.

Despite the police suggesting alternative routes so only two officers were required on the day instead of seven, a way forward wasn’t reached.

Insp Adam Jones, of Mid Kent police, said: "Police have no legal authority to either approve or ban events and have no general duty to preserve public safety at an event, except where there are imminent or likely threats to life.
"Our advice was not to grant the road closures based on the information we received due to lack of preparation around risk management."

The inspection and service will still take place at Borden Grammar School playing from 2pm to 3.30pm.