Woolas backs local pubs for a Charity Beer Festival after LibDem Oldham Council says no to use of hall

 

2 February 2010

 

Phil Woolas is backing a bid by a campaigning pub landlady to organise a replacement Oldham Charity Beer Festival. Phil is angry at the way the LibDems running Oldham Council have killed the traditional festival in the QE Hall.

 

 

 

 

Jo Potter, Landlady of the Ashton Arms in Clegg Street is spearheading the launch of the event which will be held across key town centre pubs in March.

She has already recruited The Royal Oak at Rhodes Bank, The Three Crowns, Upsteps, Whittles and Jackson’s Pit to join the venture.

 

Her efforts have been praised by Mike Robinson, a leading CAMRA official who had organised The Oldham Beer Festival since its inception 23 years ago.

 

He said: “Oldham’s town centre real ale pubs are to be congratulated for working together to help fill the void left by the cancellation of the CAMRA-organised beer festival at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

 

“This was caused when the council withdrew concessionary use of the venue by the Mayors Appeal Committee.”

 

Phil Woolas, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, claimed the council were scrooges by pricing the traditional charity event, out of business.

 

He has written to council chief executive Charlie Parker demanding answers under the Freedom of Information act to issues regarding charges, bookings and hire of the hall.

 

Phil says “ I am delighted that Town Centre Landlords have come together to organise a Beer Festival in March to raise money for local charities. Oldham Council’s decision to price the Annual Beer Festival out of the QE Hall is a disgrace. Hopefully the hundreds of real ale fans who have attended the Annual event for the last 23 years will still come along and find a good selection of real ales available in a number of our well known pubs this year.

 

I hope local businesses who have sponsored casks of ales in the past will step in again to make this new type of event, which is all about having a good night out, and raising money for local charities. Something the Mayor’s Charity Committee were previously able to organise until the present Council leadership, harshly withdrew its support for the annual event.