Folk festival facing an uncertain future

THE future of the Saddleworth Folk Festival is in jeopardy after organisers scrapped this year’s event.

They say the expected closure of Churchill Playing Fields and a dwindling committee has forced them to pull out of this year’s and next year’s event.

Traditionally the festival would have begun this week, with a wealth of big-name acts and sing-alongs putting Saddleworth on the map for folk fans.

But organisers pulled the plug after it was thought hundreds of campers would have nowhere to go following the closure of the village fields in Greenfield for a drainage overhaul.

Organiser Jan Shevlin said: “Normally we’d be starting organising next year’s event now, but not knowing whether we will be able to use the fields means we can’t make the financial commitment and risk losing out.

“So many people have worked hard to make the festival what it is and it’s a real boost for the local economy.

“With a smaller committee this year we made the decision to take a break and get more volunteers on board but it’s not looking promising for next year with Churchill.”

The thirteenth annual festival last year was a hit, with fanatics flocking to Uppermill to witness Scottish folk superstar Dougie MacLean.

Jan, who lives in Shaw, now says the festival may have to carry on in another guise.

She added: “There is a big question mark over the future, if we don’t keep the momentum going the danger is we could lose followers.

“We’ll be looking into the possibility of putting on one-off events, maybe during the winter and next year, to keep the name of the festival. It’s so important to do that.”

Work was expected to start at Churchill Playing Fields in July, but neighbourhood manager Lisa McDonald has confirmed a hold-up in funding.

The Rugby Football League are expected to make a decision at the end of July, but a decision from the Football Federation will not be made until a panel meeting in mid-August.

Phase one of the work will not go ahead until the funding has been confirmed.

For more information or to lend hand to the folk festival committee visit www.safra.org.uk .