Bromley Gay March

3.35.48pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 27th Jul 2005

Bromley's gay and lesbian community are gearing up for this Saturday's march through Bromley town centre to demonstrate against the Council's refusal to allow same sex ceremonies in their municipal buildings including the register office.

Organised by Pink Pendulum and Pink Weddings, people will meet at 11.30am at the Crown and Anchor pub (19 Park Road, Bromley) and march walk to Bromley Civic Centre at 12 O'clock, where a petition will be handed in.

This is the first public demonstration Bromley has witnessed for a number of years and organisers expect a large number of people to descend on Bromley for the march

Mimi Broit, one of the organisers, says she has received very positive feedback about the march.

"It's going to cause a lot of disruption to Bromley roads. I hope the council are proud of themselves," Broit said.

March Safety; Bromley Police will be at the march ensuring campaigners' safety. Inspector Jeremy Smith, the borough's operations inspector, is busy planning the police presence.

"We won't be closing roads but there will be traffic concerns. We may have to stop cars to facilitate the march along certain roads. 'We've been told there will be about 200 people but the march has received wide publicity so we have to plan ahead," he said.

Whilst gay couples will be able to register their relationships when the Civil Partnership Acts comes into force on 5 December, they will not be able to have a ceremony if they wish to.

The Department of Trade and Industry has issued guidance on civil partnerships encouraging gay couples to hold ceremonies as part of their registrations.

Full details of the event and route map can be found on the campaign web site www.bromley.gaypettswood.com