Bacup Coconutters parade is saved after deal is reached with police (From The Bolton News)

Bacup Coconutters parade is saved after deal is reached with police

9:04am Thursday 28th February 2013 in North West

A FAMOUS morris dancing parade has been given the go-ahead after organisers and police reached an agreement.

The Britannia Coconut Dancers, based in Bacup, were warned by county council officials that volunteers would have to undergo a costly training course in order to act as stewards during the group’s traditional boundary dance on Easter Saturday.

But after a meeting between Nutters’ committee members and Chief Superintendent Chris Bithell, Lancashire police have agreed to supervise pedestrians and marchers. Sec- retary Joe Healey and treasurer Neville Earnshaw met with Pennine division’s most senior officer to discuss issues that arose after last year’s parade, including a bottleneck of the crowd at Burnley Road in Bacup. Road closure fees of up to £1,000 will now be paid using grants from county councillors Jimmy Eaton and Peter Steen.

Mr Healey said: “After some struggle, we have accepted the conditions and discussed the particulars at length with Ch Supt Bithell. No volunteers from the group will have to attend the training course as police will be looking after pedestrians.

“We accept the road closure order and thankfully the community and councillors have gone to great effort and we will be able to afford that now. We’re delighted to have reached a positive conclusion with the blessing of all the authorities.”

Around 800 dancers and spectators are expected to turn out for the 110th annual event on March 30, including a group of 25 tourists from Finland.

The dancers start off in the village of Britannia before making their way through Bacup and Stacksteads to the boundary with Waterfoot.