Villagers fight to close road for Remembrance Day service

They say the road is too dangerous for people to stand in during the service even with barriers halfway across, and the noise of traffic interrupts the solemn occasion.

But the council says it is not appropriate to hold another act of remembrance other than the civic one in Alexandra Park and they cannot accept responsibility for the event.

More than 200 signed a petition to the council in December last year but the matter was only brought to the traffic management committee last night.

Petitioners want the main road closed for 30 minutes while people from Ore churches and other parts of the community congregate in the road outside the memorial for the two minutes' silence.

George Ford, lay minister at Christ Church, has taken on the fight for the council to take responsibility for the event from Reverend Pangbourne, who has now retired.

He said: "It's very difficult standing there at the memorial with juggernauts rattling past."

Committee members were due to note the petition and tell those who signed that the council cannot accept responsibility for the planning, management and insurance of the event.

Kevin Boorman, marketing chief at the council, said: "The council's civic act of remembrance is held in Alexandra Park and it is not considered appropriate to hold another in Ore or elsewhere."

The police also said they would not be able to provide the officers to manage a road closure.

Ron Winchester, a timber merchant who lives and works in Ore, said he backed the road closure idea.

He said: "If they divert the traffic then there isn't a problem and I think it's a good idea.

"If it wasn't for our war heroes we wouldn't be here, would we?"