Brassed off

WHAT a mess . . . David Needham fears the quagmire could ruin the band contest

Council quagmire puts band contest in peril

SCOUTHEAD’S band contest could be brought to an end after 32 years because Oldham Council allowed a field to be ruined.

Organisers of the Scouthead and Austerlands Whit Friday band contest say council-owned Dawson’s Field, where the contest has always been held, has been turned into a quagmire of mud and horse manure after a change in policy.

They have generously offered to re-instate the field at their own cost — but after nine months of correspondence with the council, still haven’t been given the go-ahead. Time is now rapidly running out.

The group’s secretary David Needham said: “The original policy was to restrict grazing licence holders to the top section of the field, thereby leaving the bottom section available for the band contest and other community events.

“After organising the contest successfully for three decades we have recently discovered that this was abandoned by the council a few years ago.

“Since then, the field has deteriorated to such an extent that the likely result is that Saddleworth could now lose one of its Whit Friday contests.

“It will take several months to bring the field up to scratch and that work needs to commence immediately to guarantee an acceptable standard for the contest scheduled for May. The problem is not of our making but, with our community’s help, we are willing to fund the work and fence-off the contest area.”

The organising committee has made calls and held meetings with the council’s property managers the Unity Partnership over the last nine months, and stressed two weeks ago the urgency, but has still not been given approval.

Mr Needham added: “Our contest is well-organised, trouble-free and family-orientated. Its importance to our community is evident each Whit Friday when hundreds turn out to watch and listen to well over 2,000 musicians competing on Dawson’s Field. It is unreasonable for anyone to be expected to enter the field in its present condition.

“The irony is that it is believed the land was originally donated to the West Riding County Council for use by the community and was used as such for generations until access was denied by the council’s change of policy, which was introduced without any consultation with local people.

“Sadly, this year, when Oldham Council is the sole sponsor of the Whit Friday band contests area prizes, Scouthead and Austerlands may have no contest at all.”

Councillor Mark Alcock, Cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, said: “I am currently working with council officers actively seeking to facilitate a permanent home for Scouthead and Austerlands Whit Band Contest.

“Oldham Council has long been a supporter of the contest and we wish the organisers well with this year’s event and hope it will flourish for many years to come.”