St George's Day parade set to return to town after 20-year gap

COUNCIL DEBATE WAS PUNCTUATED BY CROWD OUTSIDE CHANTING 'ENG-ER-LAND'

- By EDDIE BISKNELL Local democracy reporter

The St George's Day parade in Ilkeston in 2006

COUNCILLORS have backed plans to reintroduce a St George's Day parade in Ilkeston.

At an Erewash Borough Council meeting, councillors gave cross-party support to the reintroduction of the parade and associated events.

The backing comes around 20 years after the last St George's Day Parade took place in the town, before it was cancelled due to the cost of the significant police presence required to avoid potential criminality.

Debate over the issue was punctuated by regular chanting of "Eng-er-land" from campaigners who had gathered outside Ilkeston Town Hall.

Councillor Dan Price, of Reform UK, who brought the motion, also called for the creation of a bank holiday on St George's Day but this was not supported and was replaced with a commitment to fly the English flag outside the authority's town halls on April 23.