Road closures in Bradford this weekend
(August 27 11:30am)
Well Street will be closed from 7pm on Friday, 27 August to 7pm on Sunday, 29 August, although it may reopen earlier at the discretion of the police and Council.
Market Street will be closed from 12.30pm to 3.30pm on Saturday, 28 August.
There is a blanket Road Closure for all roads within the Bradford Inner Ring Road. Closures of the following roads for operational reasons will be made at the discretion of the police and the Council, keeping traffic disruption to a minimum.
Croft Street; Shipley Airedale Road; Canal Road; Hamm Strasse; Drewton Road; Westgate; Godwin Street; Princes Way; Manchester Road; Whetley Hill; White Abbey Road; Drewton Road; Manningham Lane; Marlborough Road; Carlisle Road.
Previous news: Planned protests in Bradford on Saturday, 28 August 2010
Two protest groups, the English Defence League and Unite Against Fascism, plan to come to Bradford on Saturday, 28 August.
Bradford Council and West Yorkshire Police understand the concerns within our communities about what this could mean for them and for the city.
The Council has been working with the police and other partner agencies in a detailed planning process for some time to make sure that people can go about their daily lives with as little disruption as possible on Saturday.
Local people can have confidence in the police and the Council maintaining public safety on the day and can be reassured that the city will be returned to normal very quickly after any protests.
The Home Secretary has given her consent for the Council to impose an order banning any public processions, including marches, in the Bradford District over the bank holiday weekend, 28-30 August 2010. This permission was sought at the request of the Chief Constable and after the Council listened to the views of a wide range of local groups and organisations.
Even though the Home Secretary has given her consent it does not prevent any static protests taking place, which are still lawful provided they remain peaceful, as there are no legal powers to prevent them.
If you are coming into Bradford city centre to shop or as part of your normal business, you should expect some disruption. It will be busier than normal and some roads will be affected, but as far as possible we wish to see business as usual.
We do not want people to come into the city intent on confronting any protestors. Let the police handle it. There will be plenty of police officers working in the city centre. In your neighbourhoods, local Neighbourhood Policing Teams and local Neighbourhood Wardens will be available to reassure and assist you.
West Yorkshire Police’s role is to facilitate peaceful protest. If anyone commits a criminal offence they will be dealt with fairly but firmly. The police will not tolerate damage to the city or acts of violence
The people of Bradford have a big role to play. We ask that whatever happens on Saturday, 28 August, you allow the police and the Council to manage it, which we can do with the resources at our disposal.
A Community Celebration for local people to show their opposition, in a peaceful, positive and dignified way, to people from outside the district using their city as a venue for protests which can not in any way be connected to the city, is being planned. The event will be held on Saturday, 28 August at Infirmary Fields, Westgate from 12 noon until 4pm.
More information is available in the following Q&A.
Does the ban mean that there will be no protests in Bradford on 28 August?
No, there will still be protests in Bradford on 28 August. Even though the Home Secretary has given her consent to impose a ban, it does not prevent any static demonstrations taking place, which are still lawful provided they remain peaceful, as there are no legal powers to prevent them.
What events are planned for August 28?
Two groups, the English Defence League and Unite Against Fascism have indicated they wish to protest in Bradford. The English Defence League will be protesting in Bradford Urban Garden and Unite Against Fascism/We Are Bradford will be protesting in Crown Court Plaza.
A community celebration for local people to show their opposition, in a peaceful, positive and dignified way, to people from outside the district using their city as a venue for protests is also being held in Infirmary Fields, Westgate.
What are the Police doing about it?
West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison wrote to the Council, asking them to seek a ban on processions/marches over the Bank Holiday weekend. He did this after careful consideration of all the available facts, on the basis that he did not believe it would be possible to facilitate a march without a risk of serious disruption or disorder and believing a march would create likely problems for the police and for the general safety of the public. This ban having been agreed, the police are well placed to manage the protests which will still go ahead.
What is the Council doing about it?
The Council, having received the request from the Chief Constable and subsequent Home Office approval, have put the ban in place. Bradford Council was also conscious of local concerns about the impact of such a march.
They have worked closely with the police and other local organisations to plan and manage the protests and are continuing to listen to the views of a wide range of local groups about the protests.
How was the ban obtained?
The Home Secretary has given her consent for the Council to impose an order banning any public processions, including marches, in Bradford District over the bank holiday weekend, 28-30 August.
The Council by itself has no powers to ban such protests without the consent of the Home Secretary. The Council sought the Home Secretary’s permission to impose an order prohibiting the holding of public processions in Bradford District over the bank holiday weekend, after receiving a letter from the Chief Constable asking the Council to do so.
The Chief Constable had to consider carefully all the public safety and human rights issues arising from any march by protesters, including the understandable concerns of the community, before deciding to apply to Bradford Council for an order prohibiting the holding of a public procession on 28 August.
The Council and the police also listened to the views and concerns of a wide range of local groups and organisations about the protests, before contacting the Home Secretary.
Will Bradford be safe on August 28?
The police and the Council have been working together closely for some time to plan for and manage any static demonstrations. Local people can have confidence in the police and the Council maintaining public safety on the day and can be reassured that the city will be returned to normal very quickly after any static demonstrations.
Should I come into Bradford on August 28?
If you are coming into Bradford to shop or as part of your normal business, you should expect some disruption to the city centre. It will be busy and some roads will be affected, but as far as possible we wish to see business as usual.
We do not want people to come into the city intent on confronting any protestors. Let the police handle the events.
I am worried about my own safety what should I do?
If you are concerned now, before the event, please speak to your local police who will update you on the current situation. The police and the Council want to reassure and support all communities and encourage them not to be provoked into reacting to the protests.
There will be plenty of local police officers working on the day to reassure and assist you.
What will happen to those who commit damage or disorder?
West Yorkshire Police’s role is to facilitate peaceful protest. If anyone commits a criminal offence they will be dealt with fairly but firmly. The police will not tolerate damage to the city or acts of violence.