4BR has been informed that organisers of the Scouthead & Austerlands Whit Friday contest have been shocked to learn at the last minute, that the local Police have stopped competing bands from marching to the contest venue after 10.30pm on the night of the popular event.

Death knell

The result could well mean a death knell according to Secretary David Needham, after he was told of the decision – one that means that the spectacle of bands marching down Huddersfield Road stops at 10.30pm, whilst it carries on at rival venues well up to midnight.

David told 4BR: "We were astonished to discover this restriction imposed by the Police as this deviates from the finishing time we agreed with Oldham Council months ago.

It goes against weeks of planning, and we are now scrambling around having to notify the bands that our last registrations will be held at 10.00pm instead of the 11.00pm we have used so successfully for the past 12 years."

Unfair

He added: "It seems unfair. It’s not as if our contest is noted for troublemakers. We feel our committee is being penalised by the Police for running a peaceful event. It’s just another of the many obstacles placed in our way in recent years.

So much so, that the committee has now decided that enough is enough and we will call it a day after this year’s contest."

Step too far

The alternative arrangement suggested by the Police is seen by David as a step too far.

"We have been told by the Police that if we are unhappy, we can always hire a specialist contractor. Apart from the impracticality of this, if we take up the suggestion it means the legal liability for the traffic management on the A62 would rest entirely on the individual members of our committee. That is a step too far."

We were astonished to discover this restriction imposed by the Police as this deviates from the finishing time we agreed with Oldham Council months agoDavid Needham

Impossible task

David now believes what was a simple and very enjoyable job of organising such a well supported community event has turned into an almost impossible task.

"We originally volunteered to organise a band contest, not to accept liability for traffic management, which we believe should be the responsibility of either the Police or Oldham Council.

Up to three years ago running a Whit Friday event was enjoyable hard work. The Council and the Police organised traffic management and our committee organised the band contest itself.

It was considered a community event valued by all concerned. Nowadays we are treated as if we are a business enterprise and are inundated with overbearing regulation and the fear of litigation."

Wish to continue

He concluded: "Naturally, if any other group of people wish to continue with the band contest, then we should be pleased to give them our assistance, but this needless interference has perhaps sounded the death knell on the contest."