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Council brass to rescue contests
Reporter: Richard Hooton
Date online: 03 February 2010
COUNCIL chiefs have stepped in to help the survival of the Saddleworth and Lees band contests.
Oldham Council discovered that the traditional event, which dates to an earliest recorded contest in 1884, was facing difficulties following the withdrawal of some long-term sponsors.
But a decision has now been taken to grant £7,500 from the priority investment fund, a cashpot set aside to specifically support key projects and initiatives that have a real impact on the borough and its citizens.
It will help organisers ensure that the 2010 event proceeds, as planned, on Whit Friday, May 28.
Councillor Barbara Beeley, community champion for the Saddleworth and Lees District Partnership, said: “I have been pleased to support the band committee in its search for funding.
“I am sure we all recognise the importance of the Saddleworth and Lees band contests, which are the biggest annual events on the local calendar in many of our villages.
“Not only is this important to our local communities, however, it is also a key way in which we celebrate our heritage and promote the image of our borough externally.
“We are very pleased to be able to support the 2010 event and I look forward again to welcoming bands from all over the country and Europe to this fabulous free show.”
Council leader Howard Sykes said: “Nobody is immune from financial pressures related to the recession, so we are delighted to have been able to help ensure that such a showcase event will continue in 2010. The band contests are exactly the kind of cause that we established the priority investment fund to support.”
Previous examples of the use of fund include: supporting Bloom and Grow (the borough’s successful entry in 2009’s North West in Bloom), the Poppy Projection on to the civic centre last November, and the Festival of Remembrance.
Comments
yes a measily £7500 to help a long standing traditional event that is one of the only true tourist attractions in the borough.
while the pointless flowers for Bloom and Grow cost £200,000 and the Poppy projector was £25,000 and for only 5 nights.
when will this council ever spend money wisely?
Sorry Fedupoldhamer but the sponsors withdrawing has been reported in this paper in the past why don’t you become a useful Oldhamer put your anger to some constructive use get involved work with a charity. Bloom and grow was one of the best thing in Oldham last year so stop moaning get active to improve Oldham winge or work its up to you
Barros lets see how much money will be spent this year on flowers? considering they used seedling varieties of flowers. they'll have to buy them all over again!
dont forget that £200,00 was on top of their existing spending!
oldham council have not got a clue how to spend money wisely! almost everyone agrees with this!
Have Your Say
this first ive heard of sponsors pulling out!
sounds like a distraction to me. cleverly created by sykes himself!
especially as he lists two of the biggest wastes of money last year as previous recipients of the fund.
the pointless poppy projection and the bloom flowers waste.
both of these got much more than a measily £7500 the whit friday contests are getting!
By fedupoldhamer @ 03/02/2010 12:58:35