It was announced today that the 2012 Saddleworth Beer Walk has been cancelled.
The Beer Walk is one of the biggest fund raising events of the year in Saddleworth and on average raises £45,000 per annum for charity.
From next year in addition to financing policing of the event Saddleworth Round Table are expected to pick up the costs for cleaning up and traffic management which would cost in the region of £58,000. This has forced the organisers to call off the event.
Dave MacDougall, the walk’s chairman, was quoted in the Oldham Advertiser as saying, “He hoped it could be resurrected in a better funding climate or replaced with another community event.” He added: “It is an absolute tragedy that an event which has raised so much money for worthy causes – and really put Saddleworth on the map – has had to be scrapped.”
“We have been agonising over the walk’s future for months but, eventually, after consulting our current and previous walk organisers, we decided sadly to cancel next year’s walk.” To see the full story in the Oldham Advertiser click here.
Lorina Kenny, landlady at the Hanging Gate in Diggle said that the event will be severely missed.
‘ The beer walk has been going for 38 years ! It might not be everyone’s cup of tea – or pint of bitter ! – but it raises tens of thousands of pounds for charity every year.(I understand over £40,000 was raised this year). It is also important for the local economy – and not just the pubs. As we teeter on the edge of recession with local businesses struggling to survive, no decision like this should be taken by the Police alone.
I know Greater Manchester Police face swinging cuts in their budget, something I have consistently opposed, but this isn’t just a policing matter – the implications for the community and local businesses must be a factor in making a decision to charge the organisers this prohibitive amount.
I want to know if there has been any input on this decision from elected councillors and the business community. Are the Police in anyway publicly accountable ? Is this a decision made at local, Divisional or Greater Manchester level ? What are the implications for other major community events, not just in Saddleworth but in Oldham and the rest of Greater Manchester ?
I just heard a rumour that the Saddleworth Independence Party (SIP) are now thinking of organising a protest march at the same time, same day and same route as the Beer Walk – having quite a few SIP’s of ale in local pubs en route.
Interesting idea
Definately need a protest to show how the people of saddleworth really feel. Everyone I have spoken to has been very dissapointed to hear about this decision.
Very, very disappointed that the beer walk will not happen this year… it brings much needed business to the area and pubs like The Hanging Gate rely on these events. Just look at The Swan in Dobx – another new manager advertised as needed as the brewery will have increased the rent that much that the current Managers can’t go on – feel so sorry for them. Count me in on a protest!