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  "path": "/news/london-news-st-georges-day-parade-saved-council-threat",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-14T10:41:57.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Concern historic church bells will fall silent after Labour ends VAT reclaim scheme",
    "Motorists warned of little-known mobile speed camera hotspots in popular areas - full list",
    "Police seize 20kg corn flakes stash during £750,000 drug raid",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nA Romford businessman has stepped forward with a £9,000 donation to rescue the town's beloved St George's Day Scout parade from cancellation.\n\nDean Floyd, chief executive of Chigwell Construction, provided the sum after Havering Council revealed it faced substantial traffic management costs.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe Metropolitan Police had withdrawn its support for road closures this year, leaving organisers scrambling to find alternative funding.\n\nThe parade, which sees young Scouts march through Collier Row before attending a church service, has been a cherished local tradition for over seven decades.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nResidents expressed outrage when news emerged that the celebration honouring England's patron saint might not take place.\n\nMr Floyd's intervention, however, ensures the event will proceed as planned, preserving a community institution that has united families since 1954.\n\nAndrew Rosindell, the Reform MP for Romford, directed sharp criticism at the Mayor of London over the situation.\n\n\"We pay a huge amount to the Mayor of London by way of a precept, to provide us with local Police to look after our borough, but we are not getting the support we pay for,\" he wrote on social media\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe MP argued that officers from outer London boroughs are routinely deployed to central London for demonstrations, including \"left-wing anti-capitalist demonstrations, pride parades and climate change fanatics,\" leaving local communities without adequate support.\n\n\"Being a London borough and under the Met, resources are always taken away from us. It's Sir Sadiq Khan who is to blame,\" Mr Rosindell stated.\n\nHe described the parade as \"a magnificent display of pride\" and an essential part of Romford's heritage as an Essex market town.\n\nThe MP questioned why volunteers in high-visibility jackets could not manage a brief procession lasting merely 15 to 20 minutes.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:\n\n\n\n\n  * Concern historic church bells will fall silent after Labour ends VAT reclaim scheme\n  * Motorists warned of little-known mobile speed camera hotspots in popular areas - full list\n  * Police seize 20kg corn flakes stash during £750,000 drug raid\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nMr Floyd, a father of four who was himself a Cub Scout in his youth, explained his decision to intervene.\n\n\"When I think of everything that's getting cancelled, it's disgusting,\" he said.\n\nThe businessman expressed disbelief that neither the council nor the Mayor of London could secure the necessary funding for an event centred on children.\n\n\"This parade has been going for decades, but if it didn't happen this year, it never would have happened again,\" Mr Floyd warned.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHe drew a pointed contrast between the Scout parade and larger demonstrations in the capital, noting there would be no trouble at an event involving youngsters.\n\nHis company had previously supported Romford's Christmas festivities when they too faced cancellation last year.\n\nConservative councillor Michael White, himself a former Scout, welcomed the news that the parade would continue.\n\nSpeaking to GB News earlier this week, Cllr White said: \"I don't think councils or the police, these clipboards, these health and safety zealots, understand things like St George's Day parades.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"They're priceless, you can't put a price on them. They bond the community, they bond our tradition, they make us recall our patron saints. You can't put a price on that.\"\n\nThe Cllr said that more needs to be done to \"protect our heritage\" and \"value St George's Day in our communities\", before lambasting the London Mayor.\n\nHe added: \"I think with the Metropolitan Police, what I understand it was about resource, but I think it's a little bit more than that. It's about Mayor Khan, isn't it?\n\n\"It's about his understanding of zone one and not really understanding what's going on in the outer London ring. And for us, these kinds of parades, this celebration of Havering, is really important, and I just don't think he gets it.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nFollowing discussions between Havering Council, the Metropolitan Police and the Scouts, a joint statement confirmed that revised arrangements meant expensive external traffic management would no longer be necessary.\n\nA Met spokesman clarified that road closure responsibilities rest with event organisers and local authorities, adding that the force had not previously provided traffic support for the parade.\n\nActing Chief Inspector Charlie Routley confirmed officers would attend to protect the community, as they have done for many years.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**\n**\n\n**\n**\n\n**Our Standards:The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "St George's Day parade SAVED by local businessman after council threatened to axe event"
}