A traditional south Essex carnival is battling for survival because of new road safety demands.

Ashingdon Carnival Association today issued a plea for helpers to man road junctions for the procession day on Saturday, August 17.

The problem has arisen because of new requirements by the Accident Reduction Unit of Essex Police.

Chairman Lee Appleton said the assistance of the National Carnival Guild Essex Region Marshalls had been booked to help with the security of road junctions.

But although the procession route is only three miles long, it has more than 50 road junctions together with school, church, hospital and business entrances.

Mrs Appleton said police now require every single road junction to have a self-enforcing physical barrier, with a marshall present to remove the barrier in case emergency services want access.

She said: "It will be such a shame if this local, traditional, historical and family event is lost through the lack of volunteer supporters. If we do not get volunteers, there will not be a carnival procession through Ashingdon village this year."

Currently, the carnival raises in the region of £3,000 each year to help elderly, needy and disabled people in Ashingdon and district.

Published Thursday, February 21, 2002