Clackmannanshire Council have made the ‘disappointing’ decision to cancel this year’s Armed Forces Day parade.
It usually takes place annually as a way of showing gratitude to service personnel, and this year’s event was due to happen on Friday, June 6.
Provost Donald Balsillie said: “We were left in a position where the costs in terms of road closures and numbers participating couldn’t justify the event.
“It’s disappointing, particularly in the 80th anniversary year of VE Day, but it was purely down to logistics. We’ve relied quite a lot on the army cadets, and they’re preparing for camp.
“I'm sure we can learn lessons from this for future events.”
Mr Balsillie said that most local authorities in the Forth Valley area are struggling to organise a parade.
He commented: “We’re looking into the idea of combining them and doing the events rotationally.
“It’s certainly true that the support for meeting the costs of these days is waning a bit, the army has pressures all around the world, so their resources are being deployed elsewhere.
“I think people have maybe forgotten the purpose of them, which is the community giving back to the armed forces. For most local authorities it’s turned into a parade that soldiers provide for the community.”
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