An editor has hit out at a council’s “massive PR own goal” after it rejected his newspaper’s bid to name a town square in honour of a TV comedy duo.
Andrew Mosley, who edits the Rotherham Advertiser, has criticised Rotherham Council after it turned down a petition to dub space in the centre of the Yorkshire town as ‘Chuckle Square’ in honour of Barry and Paul Elliott, better known as the Chuckle Brothers.
HTFP reported earlier this week how the Advertiser had handed in a petition of 681 signatures to the authority, while around 1,000 further signatures obtained via the change.org website were not officially recognised by the council.
Andrew put the paper’s case to the council’s overview and scrutiny management board on Wednesday, but the idea was subsequently voted down by councillors.
Surviving Chuckle Brother Paul, right, backed the campaign
Said Andrew: “This seems like another massive Rotherham Council PR own goal and a missed opportunity to bring people into the town in the future. It must also feel like a slap in the face for Barry and Paul and all they have done to put Rotherham on the map.
“Chuckle Square could have been used as a community space and meeting place when town centre events were being staged, during Rotherham show or in the school holidays.
“Children’s entertainment could have been staged in Chuckle Square, which would have brought people into the town centre and, let’s face it, Rotherham town centre needs a good news story.
“It would have also ensured the legacy of the brothers was secured as future generations visited the town and researched just who the Chuckle Brothers were. Sadly, none of this is to be but we will now research what other avenues are open to us to pursue.”
Councillors instead voted to recommend a street or children’s play area in a new housing development in the nearby town of Maltby be named in honour of the entertainers.
Cllr Brian Steele, chairman of the council’s overview and scrutiny management board, said this was because “the brothers and their families are from Maltby”.
Barry Elliott died last year aged 73, but surviving brother Paul had backed the Advertiser’s campaign.
The bid had also won support from comic Bernie Clifton and Rotherham United Football Club legend John Breckin.
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If you are going to make a stand on an issue there are far better causes than renaming a square after a pair of comedians. But real issues take time and resources and journalists that are willing to put in the leg work and make contacts.
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Might have been a great idea but now we hear the brothers did not come from Rotherham. Surely the end of the debate? A bit of a chuckle but time to tackle more vital matters, ed.
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They’re not from Maltby, they’re from Rotherham. The council got that wrong and Paul Chuckle has had a real go at them for using wrong information to justify the decision.
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in that case Andrew the paper is right to for it. The council is being a bore. By all means give the world a chuckle. But never have a Steele Street!
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sorry. I meant GO for it.
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I suspect Rotherham’s poor reputation particularly in relation to child protection issues – which is no laughing matter – had a bearing on their decision.
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