Sandwell St George's Day parade to get funding from Keltruck
Organisers of an under-threat St George’s Day parade described as the biggest in England are celebrating after securing funding that could see the march go ahead.
Stone Cross St George’s Day Association were denied funding for the West Bromwich parade by Sandwell Council, which severed ties with the event over claims it had been infiltrated by racists.
Up to 15,000 people have enjoyed the event in previous years, which the local authority had backed with nearly £10,000.
Parade organisers have repeatedly insisted they had no political agenda and vowed to try to get the decision overturned at a full council meeting.
However, Chris Kelly, the chairman and managing director of local truck company Keltruck, has stepped in to get the march up and running again. He said: “The fact that one or two people from the BNP decided to go along last year is no reason for the council to ban the march.”
He said he still wanted to see the Stone Cross Association fund-raise but he would step in to make up any shortfall in paying for security for the march.
Trevor Collins, from the association, welcomed the news, but added: “We would still like to keep the council on board.”
Numbers on the march, which had been pencilled in this year for April 19, have nearly trebled since it started ten years ago.
But organisers will still have to go to the council to ensure there are road closures.
Sandwell councillors chose to push ahead with their own plans instead of the parade, with a “family-friendly” party and town hall concert.
Sandwell’s leader, Coun Bill Thomas, said: “Sandwell Council has a proud tradition of celebrating St George’s Day.
“We are fully committed to it and will be spending more than £38,000 on celebrating this special day.”
