Night floats get a reprieve

Following the controversial decision by Dorset Police not to allow carnival floats to move through the county after dark, carnival clubs and town committees converged on the Force’s HQ at Winfrith on 3 July to voice their concerns and discuss a way forward.

The meeting, chaired by North Dorset MP Robert Walter was also attended by representatives of Dorset Police.

The decision to ban the movement of carnival floats at night was made following an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision with an abnormal load – an incident last year that led to the tragic death of Mr William Lloyd-Brown.

The resulting change in Dorset Police policy meant that any vehicle wishing to travel in Dorset after dark exceeding a width of 2.9metres, whilst overhanging the centre-line of an unlit road, would no longer be given permission to do so for reasons of public safety. Instead, operators would be asked to travel during daylight hours.

North Dorset carnival clubs to date have a perfect safety record for moving carnival floats day and night and argued that, with significantly less traffic on the roads, it is no more or less dangerous for floats to travel in daylight hours.

With the clubs following strict Department of Transport regulations in the construction of their floats, which specify a maximum width of 3.5m – 0.6m higher than that suggested by new Dorset Police policy as safe to travel at night - it was thought an impasse had been reached.

However, Friday’s meeting saw an agreement by both parties to work together to ensure that local carnivals are not adversely affected in the short-term.

Dorset Police will look at every vehicle and route individually in collaboration with float operators to ensure that current restrictions are only applied where absolutely necessary. They have also promised to be flexible when clubs only have to travel a few miles into the county from neighbouring Somerset and Wiltshire – neither of whose police forces have adopted the night-time movement ban.

Investigations will also be made into the use of extra temporary road signage – with the permission of the local highways authority - to alert drivers that large floats will be passing through. This will not only prepare drivers in advance but have the added benefit of advertising upcoming events.

A longer-term solution will be sought that could effect a change of legislation to allow carnival floats to be treated like other larger show vehicles, many of which have a special registration that allows them to legally travel at night by self-escort. 

Bob said: “This meeting aimed at a truly constructive debate on the issue of carnival float movements after dark prior the start of the 2009 carnival season, and I believe the outcome was successful.

“Although no magic wand was found to remove the problem overnight, I believe that both the short and long term actions agreed upon on Friday will have a positive affect and allow town carnivals to proceed with their star attractions as planned.

“Perhaps most importantly of all was how this meeting demonstrated a willingness and understanding on the part of carnival operators and Dorset Police to accommodate each others’ views, despite some very real differences of opinion. What everyone shared was a recognition that the carnival, as a British tradition, must be allowed to continue as a hugely important contribution to local communities and local economies.

“Carnival clubs and Dorset Police will now be scrutinising potential routes and floats to see where and how those exceeding new limits may be safely accommodated. I will continue to pursue issues at a national level to see if we can’t get better Department for Transport legislation that takes the role and design of carnival floats into account, a move that I’m sure will have the support of my parliamentary colleagues in neighbouring constituencies.”