A small community has had to cancel its VE Day celebrations due to ‘health and safety’ concerns after visitors slept out on the village green.
Stowupland Parish Council had planned to light a beacon to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the event.
However, the intentions were thwarted when four caravans parked on the land in the center of the village.
Some residents were outraged that councillors had given in to the tourists, but a source said their hands were constrained by health and safety requirements.
‘We needed to build up a cordon, but we couldn’t do it with the travelers there. They’re only 15-20 feet away,’ the informant explained, adding that they ‘didn’t want confrontation’.
The charming village, which is nestled in the heart of Suffolk and has a population of roughly 2,500, has received multiple Best Kept Village honors.
The beacon has been a focal point of the town for several years, and it has been used to commemorate national events such as the late Queen’s platinum jubilee in 2022, King Charles’ coronation the following year, and the D-Day anniversary last year.
Scores of locals were planned to light the beacon for VE Day on Thursday this week, but the arrangements were thrown into turmoil when the tourists arrived last Wednesday.
Two days later, the parish council put a notice on its Facebook page saying, ‘Due to circumstances on our green, we have had to cancel the lighting of the beacon next week.’
Those who complained included Shaun Langford, who wrote: “Just think about what you have done; you have cancelled a celebration of military victory, a victory that cost thousands of British and Empire lives.”
‘The Stowupland Parish Council has cowardly cancelled this celebration and commemoration because of four caravans.’
Emily Iona, a neighboring resident, added: “VE Day celebrations mean a great deal to a lot of people who had family or friends serve in World War II, and it’s their right to celebrate with the local community.”
Cancelling because travelers have arrived is a poor choice… Should we stop celebrating because of one minor “potential” issue? It seems counterproductive to me.
Another irritated native dubbed the tourists ‘the untouchables’.
In a notification, the council stated: “A decision was made yesterday not to light the beacon for VE Day due to an unauthorised encampment of travellers on the village green near the beacon.”
‘We must consider the health and safety of those involved.
“We hope to organize an event celebrating VJ Day on the anniversary of August 15, 2025, which will also commemorate VE Day.”
The Retreat, a village tavern, likewise put an online notice that it would not open until 4 p.m. ‘due to the same circumstances’, adding: ‘Our heartfelt apologies to any lunches booked.’
Donna Bridges, chairperson of the parish council, said today that the travellers had not moved on, telling the Mail, ‘We’ve gone through the right channels.
Clerk Rachel Belcher-Nairn added: “The parish council is aware of the arrival of caravans on the village green and has notified the appropriate authorities.”
‘Steps are being made in collaboration with several partners to initiate a legal process.’
Travellers had previously camped on the village green in 2003, but they moved after being threatened with legal action.
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