Cancellation of Lowestoft Carnival Parade 2011
& Options for 2012

The organisers of Lowestoft Carnival have reluctantly decided to put plans for their annual parade through the town on hold for a year whilst they sort out difficulties with the event.

Extra costs and changes to the traffic management rules for carnival parades have forced the town’s carnival organisers, The Friends of Lowestoft Hospital, to reach this decision.

Since going public with their concerns about the viability of this year’s parade two months ago, organisers have been busy checking out possible alternative routes.

Carnival chairman Mrs Pat Rayner said “we thoroughly investigated the idea of an “off-road” parade taking a route along the town’s south seafront – but as this would by necessity exclude large lorry floats we ruled it out as not coming up to our expectations for a traditional procession. We have had negligible support for a seafront parade – so decided to reject the idea.”

She added “Information about the community fund offered by Waveney District Council to help the parade financially has been unclear – so has not helped to solve the situation.

We also received a suggestion from the Lowestoft Town Management Partnership to take the parade through London Road North – but after due consideration this option also had to be declined.

The uncertainty has been giving us all sleepless nights, so The Friends committee met recently to make a final decision – which was not to organise a parade this year but to start planning now for 2012. We are all keen carnival enthusiasts and make the decision with a heavy heart and trust that our many supporters will understand.”

Looking ahead to 2012, the committee, realising that the regular August date for the parade would clash with the Olympic Games in London – with the potential resultant lack of availability of Police and first aid personnel, suggested holding a procession on a Sunday in June.

It was hoped that by then all the rules and regulations for carnival parades in Suffolk would be clearer and also any financial or practical help available would be known.