The new commander of RNAS Culdrose has promised to keep the Freedom of Helston Parade an annual event.

Residents of Helston had strongly opposed an announcement made recently by Captain Adrian Orchard that he was considering changing the frequency of the event to once every two years.

At a meeting of Helston Town Council on Thursday, Captain Orchard said: “I wanted to come down here to make sure that people were clear about what that proposal is.”

He told town councillors that the proposal to scale back the event, which has been held every year since 1958 for the freedom of the town to be bestowed upon the sailors at the base, was due to the fact that the Navy had reduced in size every year since he joined 28 years ago. Meanwhile commitments, including civic engagements, had increased.

Captain Orchard said: “I’m aware of the link and the hand in glove relationship with the base and the town.” He added that having worked at Culdrose for three months he has never before been at a base where “the link between the base and the community is quite so strong.”

He said that the suggestion “was literally that, a proposal,” which he had thought might allow the base to “focus our energies”, adding that he did not know of another town in the UK with an annual freedom parade, with Culdrose’s sister base at Yeovilton holding their parade once every five years.

Councillor Martine Knight told Captain Orchard that she and the other councillors were “mindful” of the fact that the military forces are under more pressure than before, and understood where the proposal came from.

However, she said the town is immensely proud of the relationship with the base, and the freedom has been exercised annually since it was bestowed.

She said: “I accept that other places do that differently, but Helston is different to everywhere anyway. We don’t have a problem with being different.”

Councillor Ronnie Williams said: “I know I’m old, I look old, but I’ve been on this council for many years. I was born within yards of your air station, and my father and grandfather the same.

“This station means so much to the people that to do this, it isn’t even worth thinking about. It means so much to so many people. Helston has built itself around the air station. Even if there are only six people you can turn out that would be enough. Please keep it going every year.”

After hearing the councillors speak, Captain Orchard said: “We are part of the same town. I represent the base, you represent the town. It’s the same place.

“We will continue as an annual event.”