A COUNCIL chief urged groups planning outdoor events to give the local authority advance warning to help them keep villages tidy.
The plea came from Cllr Dave Hibbert, Oldham’s Cabinet member for Environment and Housing, after complains bagged rubbish, collected after the Saddleworth Rushcart Festival, were left outside The Church Inn in Uppermill. 
Julian Taylor, husband of the pub’s landlady, Christine who has run the pub for 22 years, led volunteers, including Morris Men, in clearing the hillside and pathways of waste after the event.
The bags were neatly stacked in front of the Church Inn’s own waste disposal bins – but Julian says a team from Oldham Council drove up in a lorry, took a picture, then drove away.
“I couldn’t believe my eyes,” he said. “They took the picture, then headed back down the road, leaving the waste where we’d put it.”
A spokesman for Saddleworth Morris Men who helped in the clean-up said: “The pub is our headquarters and they do a tremendous job. They even provide toilets at their own cost.
“Everyone was only too pleased to help clear up the rubbish. We were flabbergasted the rubbish was left behind.”
The rubbish was later removed and Cllr Hibbert said: “We applaud these volunteers who took the time and effort to clean up after the Rushcart event – this is exactly the kind of co-operative and community spirit we are looking to support.
“Unfortunately, the organisers hadn’t contacted us beforehand to enable us to make arrangements for the removal of the waste from their collection point.
“Had they done so we would have worked with them to sort the swift removal of the waste,” he said. “We will work with you to make this a success for the whole community.”
Groups planning to clean-up at future events should contact the council before the event by calling: 0161 770 6644 or emailing: waste@oldham.gov.uk
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