Threatened band contest is rescued

SCOUTHEAD and Austerlands Whit Friday band contest has been saved after Oldham Council agreed to grant a venue licence.

The Evening Chronicle revealed fears three weeks ago that the tradition could be brought to an end after 32 years because the Dawson’s Field site had been turned into a quagmire.

A change in policy had reversed restrictions on grazing, leading to the site becoming a mess of mud and horse manure. Organisers had offered to re-instate the field at their own cost, but after nine months of correspondence with the council were still awaiting the go-ahead with time rapidly running out before the May 28 event.

But the uncertainty has now been lifted after the council agreed to let organisers take control of the area.

It follows the good news that changes to traffic management won’t stop Saddleworth’s annual band contests and beer walk going ahead. The council says only the A670 Uppermill High Street will now be completely closed.

The Scouthead contest’s secretary, David Needham, said: “The committee is delighted with the outcome; it means our community can continue to enjoy an event which has been held on this site for 32 years. And it is with the help of people from our community that the field will be brought up to standard in time for Whit Friday.

“We would like to thank Councillor Mark Alcock, who, once alerted to the problem, took quick and decisive action to overcome the remaining obstacles to the plan.

“Our appreciation also goes to Councillor Barbara Beeley, for championing our cause, and to our local representative Councillor Derek Heffernan, who assisted us in finding a satisfactory solution.

“Naturally, we are grateful to the Chronicle for highlighting our predicament.

“A lot of work now needs to be done on the field and we are pleased that local horticultural specialist, John Buckle & Son, has volunteered its expertise free of charge to undertake the work and to maintain the site afterwards.

“The committee will now concentrate on what they do best — organising a successful band contest. We are a little behind schedule but we will get there in the end.”

The council says a farmer who held a council-granted grazing licence — to use the land for keeping horses — has been offered the remainder of the field together with another grazing plot in the area amounting to the same size of pasture to be used by the band committee.