Having read the Telegraph link, it doesn't seem to me that this is about deliberately interfering with our traditions or culture. It's simply about safety, and it's true, people are indeed standing on the actual roadway. If children got excited they might well push forward and end up being hurt. I expect a solution can be found by changing the venue to a safer spot. I can never accept anyone's objections on race grounds to 'blacking up'. As I've said before on other threads, my (very black) husband is enchanted with Border Morris dancing, and has gladly joined several dances with Leeds Morris and Leicester Morris having been invited as a spectator to take part clutching a borrowed stick and wearing a feathered hat. He remarked that at least he was already sufficiently black! If he doesn't see any of it as 'racist' why should anyone else?