Health and safety threat to Wycombe events (From Bucks Free Press)

Health and safety threat to Wycombe events

1:21pm Friday 7th November 2008 in

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PUBLIC celebrations could be put under threat because of health and safety fears – just weeks after a Remembrance Day parade was rescued from similar laws.

Insurance fears could lead Wycombe District Council to deny vital road closure orders for events such as processions, officers have said.

This is because the council would take on the risk from organisations that do not have the right cover.

The news comes after organisers of High Wycombe’s Remembrance Day parade – to take place this Sunday – warned a demand to install barriers was draining funds.

They said a hike in the cost of these barriers put the parade at risk – leading the district council and Buckinghamshire County Council to fork out for this year’s costs (see links, right).

A senior councillor today said the latest move was “sad” reflection of Britain’s litigious society and “blame culture”.

The authority would have to carry the risk for “processions, illuminations and public celebrations” should event organisers not have public liability insurance.

A report to councillors says: “If a road closure order is made for an organisation that does not have public liability insurance, then the risk transfers to WDC. ”If something goes wrong, then we could be held liable.”

And even if organisers had insurance this might not be the £10m sought by the county council, which is responsible for roads.

If this is the case then the district council will again carry the risk – leaving it with a tough choice over whether to grant the road closure.

The report says “if we still go ahead with the order [then we] must have very good reasons for doing so”.

Council leader Lesley Clarke said it was likely the council would be faced with this decision.

She said: “Not many small charities carry this size of cover, the norm is £5m.”

Councillor Tony Green, who helps organise the Remembrance Day parade, said he was not aware of anyone suing over an incident at such events.

He said: “Sadly, in these days of litigation, you have to be liable for everything. It is just a fact of life.

“I think we litigate much too much as a society. It does cause problems for organisations that want to hold events.”

Mr Green added: “You only have to watch television and see all the adverts for all the ambulance chasers.

“Sadly, when something happens they think someone is to blame. Before, people would have just seen it as an accident.”

The parade, organised by the High Wycombe Charter Trustees, will make its way through High Wycombe at about 10.30am.

The two councils stumped up the cash so this year’s event could go ahead and have said they are looking at ways to bring down costs so it can continue.