A TOWN council will “carry on regardless” planning events for later in the year following the easing of lockdown restrictions.
Since the coronavirus lockdown Barnard Castle Town Council has had to cancel several events, including the popular 1940s weekend.
With the easing of restrictions, members discussed whether three remaining events in the year – Red Ensign Day, Remembrance Sunday and the Christmas Lights switch on – could go ahead.
Cllr Richard Childs said Red Ensign Day, in September, is a “small event” and there had already been an unofficial VE Day to mark the 75th anniversary in May.
He added: “Red Ensign Day isn’t in the same class as Remembrance Sunday, which could be held in the open air and we don’t want to cancel Christmas do we?
“Should we not carry on regardless with planning for them?”
Town clerk, Martin Clark, said new equipment fitted to the Christmas lights meant they could now be switched on remotely.
Cllr Ian Kirkbride said: “I’m not convinced about Remembrance Sunday.
“The parade would need a huge amount of stewards.
“The Christmas Lights switch-on can be done remotely, but Remembrance Day is the most difficult to give a view on.”
Cllr Laura Drew questioned whether planning for all three events should continue as normal.
She added: “Would it make sense to plan as if we are going ahead? How much do we spend on these?
“I know there is a cost involved in the planning, but they would be doing it anyway, and if there is a can, we can kick it down the road for a bit.”
Claire Atkinson, responsible financial officer for the council, said the biggest expense by far was if there were additional display pieces for the lights switch-on, such as snow globes.
She added because of safety issues, road closures were required for both the Remembrance Day and light switch on events in the current format, which do have a cost.
Cllr Sandra Moorhouse felt it was important to be able to mark Remembrance Day in some form.
She suggested if all three events were given the go ahead to continue, then the partnership committee could look at what sort of scaled-back format that could be.
She added: “We could look at something for Christmas, maybe not Santa Claus, but something else around the town.”
Mr Clark said he expected some sort of guidance from the Government soon.
