Carnival clubs meet police in plea for night travel

By dadcock

CARNIVAL organisers meet Dorset Police today in a bid to break a deadlock over moving floats at night.

Lee Upshall of Just Georges Carnival Club in Sturminster Newton said he was optimistic that the county police ban on moving floats after dark would be resolved.

Mr Upshall is one of eight representatives of carnival clubs meeting Dorset's assistant chief constable Adrian Whiting and a road traffic policing officer at police HQ in Winfrith this morning.

North Dorset MP Bob Walter will chair the meeting.

Mr Upshall said the county police ban on moving large carnival floats in Dorset at night would put the existence of carnivals in and around Dorset at risk.

He said: "As it stands we could drive back through Somerset from carnivals like Castle Cary and then have to wait at the county boundary until daylight.

"It is a real threat to carnivals. It's a crazy situation as the floats can travel at any time of day or night in Somerset."

Last autumn Dorset Police agreed to provide escorts for the floats on their way back from illuminated carnivals but that offer has been withdrawn.

Mr Upshall said: "I'm optimistic that it can be resolved at the meeting.

"Otherwise it will be the death of carnival in Dorset and the surrounding area."

He added: "Most carnival clubs rely on borrowing tractors from farmers who need the tractors back for work on Sunday mornings, so staying overnight is not an option."

The clubs met Somerset and Avon Police two weeks ago who confirmed they have no objection to floats travelling at night.

The clubs have collected more than 700 names on an online petition calling for Dorset Police to change its policy. Dee Adcock