Motors banned from Mayor's parade

6:12pm Wednesday 9th April 2008

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Susanna Pressel is ditching tradition for this year's Lord Mayor's Parade around the streets of Oxford.

The incoming mayor - the city's 46th - has opted for a more humble and greener occasion than her predecessors.

Instead of waving to the crowds from an open-top bus, Ms Pressel will march at the head of a parade of walkers, cyclists and rickshaws for the event on Monday, May 26.

City officials have insisted the idea is to project a greener image for Oxford rather than trim the £11,500 it costs to stage the event.

Ms Pressel, who will become Lord Mayor on May 15, said: "I think it's excellent because we're trying to reduce traffic in Oxford in order to reduce pollution and congestion, so it's very good if we can avoid travelling in vehicles.

"I hope it will still be quite grand and more in touch with people than if we were on an open-top bus."

The parade starts at 11.30am in Radcliffe Square, ending with a picnic in Hinksey Park.

Event organiser Andy Kneebone said: "I thought we should project a bit of a greener image."

Last year, just one vehicle was in the parade, a double-decker bus carrying the mayor, councillors and their families.

Wolvercote-based climate change expert Mark Lynas said: "It makes really very little difference. It's a symbolic gesture for a symbolic event.

"In terms of carbon dioxide it will only be something like 100g.

"But as long as it's not the sum total of the council's climate change policy, it's a very positive thing to do."

Oxford Civic Society chairman Tony Joyce said: "The city is trying to take steps to become greener so I think a demonstration like this is very useful.

"The future problems we face are actually far more important than a particular day's event."

But Bill Buckingham, 1994-95 Lord Mayor, said: "I'm one of the old-fashioned types who likes to see the Lord Mayor's car with a flag going, which brings a bit of dignity to the procession. I think it will be undignified."

Bryan Keen, Lord Mayor in 2004-05, said: "It's only sensible that you have a walking parade."

But his wife Beryl, who was Lord Mayor in 1996-97, added: "I don't think it will be nearly as good and it does diminish the sense of occasion.

"You've got to have something people are attracted to and I'm very disappointed."

County councillor Barbara Gatehouse, who held the post in 1992-93, said: "Every Lord Mayor does things the way they want, but I hope people won't be disappointed at not seeing all the floats."

Ms Pressel said: "We wanted to try a new way of doing it because it hasn't been all that successful in recent years. We thought if we did it concentrating on the city centre, it would attract more people and be more enjoyable."

Strawberry Fayre Majorettes will join the parade and have been part of the event for at least six years.

Mum and helper Sonia Denmark said: "I think it's a really good idea and environmentally friendly too. We have to walk anyway and in the past the heat and the fumes from the cars have been quite nasty."

Up to 200 people are expected to join the parade, with an estimated 3,000 lining the streets.