The annual Gala Week is packed full of activities ranging from treasure hunts to singalongs but this year a much-loved feature will be missing.
Traditionally the week begins with a Grand Procession through Hinderwell High Street with children in fancy dress on floats led by the Whitby Jets.
But this year's parade which was due to take place on 16 July has been cancelled by the organisers because of the health and safety restrictions forced on them by today's compensation culture.
Red Tape has already hit this year's Whitby Regatta forcing it to shorten its parade and local shows fear there will be chaos this year as police have withdrawn their traffic directing services.
Mick Burnside, vice chairman of Hinderwell and District Sports and Youth Centre said: "The procession has had to be cancelled due to the red tape imposed by the police.
"This new initiative may result in the cancellation of many local fairs and traditional village events throughout this summer. The rules and regulations imposed make it virtually impossible for these type of events to take place if use of the highway is necessary.
"Our Grand Gala Day will still take place with The Whitby Jets and fancy dress on the Sports Field but people locally will be bitterly dissapointed that they will not be able to turn out to watch the procession through the village."
PC Alison Graham, events and planning officer for Whitby Police, stressed that police had not told organisers to cancel the parade.
She said people can hold any event they like but if they want police assistance certain documents must be provided to prove the event is planned safely.
These include a safety event plan and a health and safety risk assessment.
"We can't stop anybody holding an event," she said.
"However they do have a duty of safety to other people involved and other people in the highway.
"Event organisers are responsible and always have been responsible for ensuring the safety of their own event whether police assistance is requested or not.
"North Yorkshire Police can only supply police officers to events that are planned safely and within health and safety guidelines.
"It is a big job but if event organisers choose not to produce this documention they will be held liable if an accident occurs or an individual is injured.
"These measures are necessary to protect the organisers."
Mr Burnside said in order to stage the procession they would need public liability insurance, float drivers would need special insurance to cover them transporting numbers of people, and they would have to produce an event safety plan.
"This is a major document which much bigger events are struggling to put together – a small committee like us would really struggle."
Mr Burnside said lack of time and money means getting the documents in place would be virtually impossible but they would try to get the procession back next year.
"It's a shame because there was a really good liason with the police in previous years."
Other gala week activities will go ahead as normal including a treasure hunt on the Monday, a domino drive on the Tuesday, Leaholm Choir on Wednesday, family sports on Thursday, a quiz on Friday and a singalong and grand draw on Saturday.
The Grand Gala day held at the Sports Field on Sunday 16 July will include vintage tractors, craft/car boot stalls and pig roast and the village will be awash with scarecrows all week.
If anyone would like further details of the week or would like to book a stall contact Mick on (01947) 841423.
Full details of events at the gala can be found on www.hinderwelltoday.co.uk

l What do you think? Write to Your Letters or e-mail us at editorial@whitbygazette.co.uk