Padgate Walking Day organizers address event cancellation

For over 100 years, schools have partnered with Padgate and Woolston churches to proudly walk the streets of the community.

The melody of marching bands can be heard as the event spreads across the region and hundreds of people line the streets to observe this centuries-old tradition.

However, this year organizers, Churches Together, made the difficult decision to cancel the Walk Day, citing this due to a “lack of volunteers” and “safety concerns”.

The organization released a statement in light of the controversy surrounding the decision, made just weeks before the event was scheduled to take place on June 22.

Addressing the reasons for the decision, Reverend David Heywood said: “At the end of April we became aware of several issues regarding this year’s Walking Day.

“As a result, an emergency meeting has been called for May 22, 2024 to discuss these matters.

“Representatives from all churches and schools participating in the Walk Day, as well as some local elected officials, have been invited to attend.”

Mr Heywood then detailed some of the concerns raised at the meeting, including that “despite calls for help, too much is being left to too few”, referring to the planning and organization of the ‘event.

He said: “Although we have succeeded so far, this year the problem has become acute, especially when it comes to meeting the safety threshold for a public event. »

Another question raised was the number of volunteer commissioners expected to assist that day.

“We need many more commissioners, at least 40 this year, but every year when we call on our churches and schools, few come forward and they are often church members aged over 70 .

“This means we are looking for people to help us on the day to catch up on the numbers. This is no longer practical or safe. Commissioners must be appointed, informed and organized well in advance of the event.

The reverend also noted that on March Day, commissioners increasingly face “abusive behavior” and have no authority.

Safety was also highlighted as one of the reasons for the event’s cancellation, after primary school representatives who attended the meeting raised “deeply concerning” questions about the safety of schoolchildren during the Day of walking.

Highlighting this in further detail, Mr Heywood said: “These include the number of people who gather outside St Oswald’s and ‘fall’ into the procession, the behavior of some when asked to remaining on the sidewalk, car owners defying volunteer marshals and removing cones. to road closures, vehicles putting children at risk at Padgate Community Center and other gathering points, “abusive” behavior from customers at a local pub and more.

“With four weeks to go, two of which are half-term, we simply cannot resolve these issues with confidence.

Finally, the question of financing the event, which, according to the organization, was left largely to the churches, would arise from year to year and the churches would “no longer be able to finance the increased costs alone.”

Summarizing the decision, the reverend said: “The meeting lasted two and a half hours as we explored and tried to find a practical solution to each problem. However, with four weeks to go, we have failed to reach consensus on whether Marching Day can be held safely this year.

“That is why it has been decided reluctantly, but in the best interests of the children in our schools, as well as the volunteer commissioners, that we should not hold Walk Day this year.”

It was also decided to establish a management team in September, in order to resolve the issues discussed so that the event can run smoothly again next year, in 2025.