PENARTH’S annual Armed Forces Day parade could be cancelled for the second year in a row.

Doubts have been thrown over whether the police can support the event and whether the 580 Transport Squadron could lead the parade if it went ahead.

Penarth Town Council deputy town clerk Keri Hutchings told the World War One Commemorative Group meeting that South Wales Police had said they didn’t have the resources to support the parade this year and it was therefore “not worth pursuing”.

He added that without police support, with five or six officers needed for around 20 minutes, they wouldn’t be able to close the roads and hold the event safely.

But after he said this Beth Jones, from the planning department of South Wales Police, said she would look into whether they would be able to send a few officers down to marshal the event.

She added that she was new to the post, but was optimistic that something could be done.

“There are a lot of changes going on, but I can speak to whoever is in the post to get their views on it,” she said.

But further doubts were thrown over whether the 580 Transport Squadron, which has led the parade in previous years, would be able to take part in the event.

A spokeswoman from 580 Squadron said they had been working on the assumption that there was not going to be a parade this year and they would not be needed.

She said she would check their availability to see if they could attend.

One of the committee members said that the Royal Navy had a division in the First World War, so if the 580 Squadron were unable to attend then HMS Cambria could be invited to take their place.

The possibility of Penarth’s Air, Sea and Army Cadets taking part in the parade instead was also raised.

Deputy town clerk Keri Hutchings said he had spoken to HMS Cambria about attending but they had said they didn’t have the number to support the event, whilst the local cadet groups had also been invited.

Members of the committee expressed their concern that the town could be without a parade for the second year in a row, after last year’s parade was cancelled when the 580 Transport Squadron pulled out of the event after it clashed with the Bridgend Armed Forces Day.

Richard James, chairman of the Penarth’s Royal British Legion branch and part of Penarth Sea Cadets, said the parade was “essential” to the town.

Penarth town mayor Cllr Martin Turner, chairing the committee, said: “How are we supposed to remember our armed forces without a parade?”

“We need to determine between the police and 580 Squadron whether it’s possible or not.

“We need to work on that as a matter of urgency.”

Deputy town clerk Keri Hutchings told the committee that this year the town council would be joining Armed Forces Day on June 20 with the World War One commemorative event ‘Penarth Remembers’. The event, which was held for the first time last year, had acted as a replacement for the Armed Forces Day parade.

He said that West House would once again be used by local groups showcasing memorabilia from World War One, and there would also be a brass band, re-enactments and other activities on the front lawn.

He said that the event had provisionally been scheduled to run from 11am until 3pm, with the parade due to start at midday.

The committee will next meet to discuss the matter on May 12.