North East Herts MP Oliver Heald has taken up with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP, Royston’s right to appoint Honorary Freemen.
Royston Town Council has written to Oliver, asking him to take up with the Secretary of State why Royston is not permitted to grant this honour to the Royal Anglian Regiment, who have recently returned to their base at nearby Bassingbourn Barracks following a tour of duty in Afghanistan.
In the light of recent encouragement from Government for communities to do more to welcome soldiers home from conflict areas, Royston Town Council and the Royal British Legion, Royston Branch, agreed that the Town Council would award the Royal Anglian Regiment the Freedom of the Town and invite them to parade through the town centre. The Town Council was extremely disappointed when it was advised that under the Local Government Act 1972, Royston is not entitled to appoint Honorary Freemen.
Commenting, Oliver Heald said, “I was pleased to take up Royston Town Council’s question with Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP. It seems that the Local Government Act 1972 Section 249 only allows boroughs, cities or towns with royal status to grant this honour to military units who are closely associated with their community.
“Members of the Royal Anglian Regiment have fought bravely for their country and we should be able to honour them by granting them the Freedom of the Town.”