Carnivals/event organisers warned to get licences in place

Cwmamman’s planned rolling road block for Saturday’s Fun Day cannot go ahead!

CARNIVAL and event organisers requiring road closures in Carmarthenshire are being asked to make sure they have the appropriate licences in place early in their planning to avoid disappointment for their big days like Cwmamman’s this Saturday.

Cwmamman Fun Day, planned Saturday (July5), has been advertising a rolling road block running from the Raven down Cwmamman Road to The Fisherman’s and Penybont Field without permission.

The police and county council say they cannot support the application because information has not been submitted in time.

The police have not tasked any of their officers to assist with a planned processional on the A474 this Saturday so the planned parade cannot go ahead because of safety concerns of all those talking part or spectating.

The 20-minute-to-walk route was proposed on a public highway where traffic control can only be achieved by police officers in uniform. Marshalls and stewards do not have the authority stop or hinder traffic.

Carmarthenshire county transport manager John McEvoy said they had to refuse a request for a temporary road closure because the information had only been received this week and there was insufficient detail to satisfy health and safety concerns. Traffic Orders take a minimum of five weeks to impose

For Dyfed Powys Police Sgt Kerry Scoberg said: “We are unable to provide the resources requested as the Cwmamman events committee have not provided the information we have requested and we are concerned the event has not been adequately planned.

“We will only support events that can be shown to be thoroughly planned and all relevant information is supplied to us to consider resources well in advance of the event-not a few days before.”

The events committee were advised of the police position on Thursday but were inviting members of the public via Facebook that they “definitely” had their rolling roadblock and were inviting the community to walk the route, decorating prams bicycles and floats on Saturday.

The events committee only provided a traffic management plan on Tuesday, July 1.

They were advised the council’s traffic management section had refused their request for a temporary traffic regulation order (temporary closure of the highway) on the A474 on July 5 on the grounds the application did not include a documented traffic management plan which allows time to perform a full risk assessment identifying risks to the travelling public and participants attending the event. This process can take five weeks arranging police resources and necessary leave.

A Llandeilo event the same weekend has been properly planned well in advance with police resources being provided.

The following legislation applies for road closure requests. It is a requirement under the Local Government Act 1974, sections 11(a)-11(e), and the Local Government Act 2002, to request permission to close a road for a temporary period.

The specific legislation used to close the road would be the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.