Whit weekend review

Hot on the heels of criticism of May’s Whit weekend celebrations in Saddleworth, organisers will soon meet to discuss the successes and failures in a bid to improve public opinion next year.

Band contest and beer walk organisers will meet separately with the council and the police to discuss ways forward and improve proceedings for 2011.

The Saddleworth Round Table rejoiced as a record 2,400 walkers took to the streets for the charity trek this year.

However, readers’ letters to the Chronicle complained of loutish behaviour, walkers urinating against houses and a lack of bins along the route.

Next year’s chairman of the walk, Nick Farrow, said: “Hopefully, the meeting will take place in the next few weeks.

“Last year there was an issue with the cost of the road closures and there was talk of reversing the route so this could be brought up again this year.

“Obviously, littering is an issue, I’d like to see more of the big yellow bins at more frequent points along the way, so I will be tackling that in the review.”

The council’s Street Scene has however been praised for collecting 40 tonnes of litter following the event.