Whit tragedy: ban on coaches not the answer

ORGANISERS say there will not be a knee-jerk reaction after Greenfield’s band contest was marred by tragedy.

Alan Chamberlain (57) died after he was hit by a coach in Chew Valley Road shortly before 10pm on Friday.

The grandfather’s eight-year-old son, Zac, who was also dragged under the coach, escaped with minor injuries.

The fatality was the first accident in the history of the Greenfield competition and has sparked calls for coaches to be banned.

Its committee will hold its usual post-event meeting next Thursday and secretary Joe Buckley said: “It is very, very difficult to understand and come to terms with. We are extremely upset, quite devastated.

“There is going to be, as there is every year, a review of the Whit Friday organisation of which the accident will be a part.

“When we have talked, we will take our proposals to the police and Oldham Council’s traffic section to seek their approval or modification.”

Mr Buckley said that everyone was concerned about safety, but he does not support a ban on coaches.

He said the current arrangement, allowing only service vehicles, coaches and villagers with passes into Greenfield during the contest, is the safest.

The vehicles follow a one-way system and Mr Buckley added: “There is nothing out of the question, but if you ban coaches you ban bands. If you ban bands you do not have a band contest.

“People are coming up with all kinds of suggestions, all of which we will need to consider, all of which to me seem to be infinitely more dangerous. I am certainly going to be watching for any knee-jerk reaction.”

Councillor John McCann echoed that view and urged people to wait for the findings of the inquest.

He said the route could be reviewed but added: “You can’t ban coaches, that’s what brings the bands.

“There is a review after every band contest and this will be a bigger one, but first we need to know exactly what happened because there are conflicting reports. There is no point in making a decision until we know what happened.”