IS there another country in the world where you would be asked to apply for a Road Closure Order purely to keep the traffic quiet for two minutes, while people pay their respects to those who gave their lives so we could enjoy the freedom we have today?

It is ironic that some of that very freedom is being eroded by legislation and red tape, much of which is actually designed to avoid causing offence to one group or another.

In this case, without the Road Closure Order the police don't have the power to stop vehicles, although they have been willing to do this in the past, no doubt without complaint from motorists.

It seems there is no place for common sense these days, everything has to be done by the book.

So next year, Malvern Town Council will have to apply for a Road Closure Order so the two minutes' silence at Belle Vue Terrace on Armistice Day can be properly observed, without the disturbance of passing police cars!

What will the result of that be? More hassle for everybody.

Instead of two police stopping the traffic for two minutes, it will take many more police and roads will be blocked for much longer either side of the event.

So by trying not to cause offence, the police will end up offending many more people. Not that it's their fault, there is no freedom of action any more. Everything is dictated from the top down and locally people are afraid to take any initiative.

Perhaps we stay competitive on a world stage because we make our innovators work so hard to cut through all the red tape, but how much longer can we be successful if we carry on like this?