WIGAN'S St George's Day parade has been axed for the first time in its 60-year history.

The annual walk round the town centre by Scouts, Guides, Cubs and Brownies has been abandoned over safety fears amid the long-running dispute with police over costs.

Changes to the way marches and parades are organised and policed mean organisers have reluctantly had to cancel the event after discovering it would cost them £1,300.

The decision has been criticised by one of the borough's top clergymen as yet another `erosion of British tradition by bureaucracy'.

Last year, Greater Manchester Police said they would not be policing parades and `walking days' to concentrate on fighting crime.

It produced a furious backlash from senior figures in the town and an 11th hour deal saw some walks go ahead, albeit in a shortened version.

Now the police say they will only staff walks when the council informs them it is necessary, following a risk assessment.

But with the cost of self-marshalling events and the huge costs involved in legal notices and road closures more community events like this are set to fall by the wayside.

District commissioner for the Scout movement in Wigan Allan Foster said they could have met the £1,300 costs with fund-raising events - but felt that it would be dangerous to have 700 children walking without a police presence.

He said: "We have taken the decision, after risk assessment, that we simple couldn't go ahead. We are saddened that for the first time in more than 60 years this won't happen but we had to think of the safety of the children."

Churches are also considering their position for this year's walking days.

Ensured

In Hindley a small police presence ensured last year's shorter event went ahead but this year's has again been thrown into doubt despite starting their inquiries the day after last year's walk.

The Rev Stephen Mather said: "We are talking about more than 140 years of tradition here.

"It is yet another British tradition that is being kicked into touch by bureaucracy.

"Last year churches adapted and showed flexibility but it still isn't enough. It's an absolute joke."

Leader of the Conservative party in Wigan, Mike Winstanley, branded the current situation `disgraceful' and accused the police of 'distancing themselves from the events and putting the onus on the local authority'.

Funded

He added: "The police are funded by the public to do the job the public want and until they start to do that they'll lose respect.

"All they seem to be doing is rubbing people up the wrong way."

In Aspull Labour Coun Chris Ready said councillors would work hard to ensure a walk did happen but described the present set up as `absurd' and a `PR disaster for the police'.

He added: "Community policing is much more than just re-acting to criminal acts".

In Bryn, Independent councillor Gary Wilkes, whose family have a long history of scouting in Wigan said: "It's a sad reflection of today's society. The police aren't really doing what they are paid for and that is to serve the needs of the community."

Anyone who wants to organise a parade or walking day now has to contact the council, which will help with a risk assessment and advise on `marshalling' their own events. Road closures and legal notices have to be paid by the organisers.

Chief Supt Lee Bruckshaw, Divisional Commander for Wigan, said: "Organisers of events should initially contact the local authority, who will conduct a thorough risk assessment and give any safety advice necessary.

"If the local authority believes a police presence is required, then they will contact us and we will reach an agreement with them to ensure the event runs smoothly."

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