LUTON Borough Council leader Hazel Simmons hopes for as much ‘normality’ as possible when protestors from the EDL, Unite Against Facism and the Muslim Defence League all descend upon the town next month.
Last year, shops and businesses were left counting the cost after much of the town was locked down during the February 5 march, with town centre retailers at a loss to the tune of £1 million.
She told the H&P: “We would like people to continue as best they can, to come into the town centre and do some shopping as they would normally.
“We want The Mall and the town centre to feel like a place people feel safe to come as they would on a normal bank holiday weekend.
“We know the effect this sort of thing can have on business in the town and we really do need people to keep coming to the town centre and Bury Park and act as normally as they can on this day.”
This year’s protest could still cost the police a pretty penny however, with the financial help afforded by the Home Office in the wake of last year’s £1 million plus policing bill for the protest said to be unlikely to be repeated this year.
Supt Mike Colbourne of Beds Police said: “In the current climate it’s by no means sure that we’ll get that kind of relief in terms of costs paid out.
“We have to keep an eye on costs but the finances don’t stop the right that people lawfully have to protest. Policing that is part of our role.”
Police say that are currently in negotiations with all parties involved in the May protest with a view to ironing out logistics for the day.
Officers have no power to try and get the protest banned but can impose conditions if they believe there to be a risk of serious disorder or damage.