Marching orders for Poppy Appeal

Last year the Royal British Legion collected £32,000 from the stand

The British Legion in Nottinghamshire may lose thousands of pounds after being forced to move the location of a Poppy Appeal stand, organisers said.

For the past 50 years, Newark and District Royal British Legion has had a stall on the corner of the Market Place in Newark.

This year it was told to move by Nottinghamshire County Council because of health and safety concerns.

The council said the stand had been relocated to another nearby location.

The British Legion said it stood to lose about £700 a day because of the move.

Unexpected losses

It said the relocation of the stall from its original site had meant some regular supporters had been unable to find it.

British Legion organiser, Geoffrey Meakin, said: "It has had a great effect on out takings this year and unfortunately we only get 14 days a year when we can sell poppies, so there is no way we can recoup what we have lost.

"It makes a colossal difference - just ask the public in the square, they will tell you they just can't find us."

The Newark and District branch should be reimbursed for its losses, he added.

A Nottinghamshire County Council spokesperson said: "It came to light that for reasons of safety and clear access, it was important that the previous practice of placing charity stalls on Market Place in Newark, in front of NatWest Bank, should cease with immediate effect.

"An area very close to the one previously used for charity collections had been designated to allow charities and other organisations to set up their stalls.

"A request from the British Legion to place a stall at this location has been received and we are pleased to confirm that this was approved without delay."