4:20am Friday 3rd July 2009
By Will Kilner
There are fears that a popular carnival could descend into a “vicious circle” of decline after organisers said this year’s event will go ahead without its traditional parade.
An array of entertainment will mark tomorrow’s 33rd Wrose Carnival but, for the first time in more than 30 years, there will be no procession along Wrose Road.
New legislation under the Traffic Management Act means the financial cost of road closures now rests with carnival committees as opposed to the authorities.
Carnival organisers were given permission to close Wrose Road for the parade but were then told it would have to provide stewards for each of the 15 side roads that run on to the main road.
With a limited number of volunteers available and traffic management companies quoting up to £4,000 for the job, the committee decided it was not financially viable to hold the parade.
Councillor Vanda Greenwood (Lab, Windhill & Wrose) said: “There are lots of new rules and I’m worried that each year it will cost more money to hold the carnival and eventually the whole thing will have to be abandoned, which would be an absolute tragedy.
“The fewer things there are to attract people, the less people go and suddenly it’s a vicious circle.”
Those attending the event will still be able to enjoy a feast of entertainment at Wrose Recreation Ground (1-4pm), with a fairground, charity stalls, tombola, dancing groups, African-style band Bang On and a Pulse radio roadshow.
Instead of a procession, three open-top cars carrying the carnival queen, princesses and rose buds will drive around Wrose for 15 minutes shortly before 1pm.
Shirelle Clarke, chairman of the carnival committee, said: “Because there’s no parade, a lot of people are under the impression it’s cancelled altogether, but that’s wrong.
“There are a load of new rules and regulations we need to adhere to and we have tried everything but we just can’t afford it.”
Mike Powell, Bradford Council’s emergency planning manager, said: “New legislation means the responsibility for planning routes, road closures and safety of events like this rests with the organisers.”
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