1:25pm Friday 28th September 2007
By Paul Dicken
ENFIELD Council's leader has echoed calls from the head of the British Army to publicly welcome home troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Cllr Mike Rye said: "Enfield would be willing to work with the forces to do what it can to honour our troops.
"Perhaps the wars in Afghanistan, and certainly Iraq, are not popular. However, I do not think any animosity is held against our troops."
During the autumn members of the Army will return from long and difficult tours in the two countries, while troops are expected to begin being withdrawn in the coming months.
In a speech earlier this month, General Sir Richard Dannatt, Chief of the General Staff, said as the Army's operational commitments had intensified the need for the nation's support had increased.
He said: "We must move from being a society that uses the military as a political and media football and more towards seeing the military for what it is: the instrument of foreign policy conducted by a democratically elected Government acting in the name of the people."
He said he thought the number of councils who had written to local battalions to arrange a homecoming parade was not high.
Cllr Rye said: "Holding a parade or some sort of civic function would reflect the high regard many people in Enfield have for our brave men and women, many of who have been severely injured, or have lost their lives, fighting on our behalf."
A spokesman for the council said the authority were in discussions with the Army on suitable opportunities.
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