Council in tune with Whit Friday bands

Councillors deserve bouquets not brickbats for helping to secure the future of the Whit Friday Band contests.

That’s the verdict of the Saddleworth and Oldham group chairman Bob Rodgers.

Mr Rodgers hit out at claims that Oldham Council’s actions had effectively banned marching on the streets and traditional routes.

The event, which he called the greatest free show in England, annually brings 130 bands to battle it out for prizes in 12 villages.

But Mr Rodgers, from Delph, said police had been telling them for five years that the cost of policing the event was in six figures which was increasingly hard to justify.

The difficulties came to a head this year when police said they would carry out public order duties, but as the council made the road closure orders, council employees were responsible for staffing them.

Road closures on main routes were suggested, but a plan revealed by highways managers on March 11 would have severely curtailed street marches in Scouthead, Greenfield, Lees and Denshaw.

Whit Friday groups in the unaffected villages supported them with a “one out, all out” stance, he added, and police and council representatives promised to think again.

Mr Rodgers said: “Councillors were totally unaware of what was being proposed at officer-level.

“These are the same people who only recently very generously granted a substantial donation to the contests to enable them to go ahead.

“Councillors were only made aware of the situation after March 11, but over the following weekend they worked their socks off to bring about a solution to enable the greatest free show in England to go ahead as normal. I would ask that we do not throw rocks at them as people usually do, but more along the the lines of bouquets, and hope this is now the end of the matter.”




Woolas views criticised

COUNCILLOR Jackie Stanton, the Liberal Democrat deputy leader, has hit out at Labour’s Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas, for claiming he has stepped in to support local people in their fight.

The MP’s website accuses Lib-Dem councillors of arrogance and ruining the contests.

But Councillor Stanton wrote to him saying: “I take great exception to your claims. My colleagues have been working extremely hard behind the scenes with event organisers for months to ensure the success of this year’s event. I have attended a number of the meetings myself, but to date have not noticed your presence.

“This Lib-Dem administration has also provided £7,500 to cover a funding gap left by a long-term sponsor.”