County council vehicles to adorn poppies

HUNDREDS of county council vehicles are to be adorned with poppies to commemorate the fallen men and women who served during the First World War and other conflicts.

More than 250 vehicles – from HGVs to minibuses - will proudly display poppies large and small in support of armed forces personnel, both past and present.

The move by the council coincides with the centenary of the 1914-18 conflict.

Blake Pain, county council cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “I am delighted that we’re continu- ing to show our support to the armed forces in a very visible way.

“We want to help raise public awareness of all those who have served and continue to serve and we’re also providing support to more than 60 Remembrance events and parades with everything from signs and cones, to putting on advice sessions for volunteer traffic marshals.”

Putting poppies on vehicles is another example of the council’s support for the armed forces community.

Earlier this year, the council re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant, which sets out the county’s relationship with the armed forces, and the services it provides for current and former personnel and their families.

As part of the covenant’s pledges, members and former members of the Armed Forces who have nowhere to live can be entitled to extra help, and serving personnel are given additional rights in terms of school place allocations.

Veterans’ needs are also taken into account with local mental health services, as well as specialist hate crime, domestic and sexual violence support services.