Keep Sidmouth procession route clear plea

Carnival chairman asks Sidmouth drivers to keep procession route free from parked cars

A PLEA goes out from the chairman of Sidmouth Carnival this week to vehicle owners.

Terry Clarke is asking people to remember not to park along the carnival route on Saturday, September 24, the day of Sidmouth’s annual procession.

“Last year we had a problem with cars parking along the roads,” said Terry, who has now chaired the carnival for two years.

“We had a couple of cars left and had trouble getting floats past. We tried putting out cones but they managed to park between.”

This year, organisers will be putting signs along the route two days before the procession, to remind people there will be traffic parking restrictions in force.

Woolbrook Road and Arcot Road will be closed from 4pm to 8.30pm on that Saturday.

The procession starts from Woolbrook Road at 7.30pm and travels to Temple Street, Radway, High Street, Fore Street, the Esplanade, Station Road and All Saints Road.

All these roads – except Woolbrook Road - will be closed from 7pm to 10.30pm.

Mr Clark expects some 20 floats for the parade and added: “Entries have been very good and we have an entry from Manstone Youth Centre for the first time in the walking groups.”

He understands pupils from the new Sidmouth Primary School will process in their new school uniform.

The procession will be led by a Sidmouth fire engine, followed by Sidmouth Lifeboat. The queen, Rosie Davis-Stokes, and her two princesses, will travel in the Toastrack.

Three groups of majorettes will join the procession this year, Karisma from Axminster, Fire and Ice from Seaton and Lyme Regis Majorettes.