On closer inspection, it turns out that what the fuzz have actually done is wash their hands of it, as they have done with traffic policing across the GMP area - you try finding a traffic cop round here - and left the council to deal with road closures (never mind that this is clearly an abdication of responsibility for public safety). In typical mealy-mouthed fashion, instead of holding the GMP to account via the GMPA Oldham Council have simply said they won't close any roads.
GMP carefully make it quite difficult to complain, but Oldham Council have a page where you can rip into them, should you wish -
link here. This is what I've just sent them...
I am appalled to learn from the Oldham Chronicle website that Oldham Council plans to refuse to close roads for some of the annual Whit Friday brass band contests, thereby threatening the existence of a 125 year old tradition. Whit Friday brings thousands of visitors to Saddleworth, staying in local hotels, eating and drinking in local establishments for a celebration of one of the world's greatest folk music traditions, and is world famous. I urge you to reconsider this ill-thought out policy decision immediately. I note that there was no problem closing roads for last summer's Mayoral parade, led by Dobcross Youth Band! It would seem that brass bands are useful when you have an inportant civic event to mark, but an inconvenience at other times.
However, as I'm not an Oldham council taxpayer, I don't expect a response - if you do happen to live in OMBC can I recommend you hassle your councillor, their phone numbers are
here. After all, that's what they're there for
