Council urged to reverse block on comedian appearing at council-owned venue

A petition calling on a local authority to reverse its decision to refuse to allow a comedian to perform at a council-owned venue has attracted the support of more than 500 people.

According to a report by the BBC, Ashfield District Council had previously said that Roy 'Chubby' Brown’s act was not appropriate for the Festival Hall in Kirkby-in-Ashfield and “not one that it wished to be associated with”.

The comedian had been due to appear at the venue in October this year

The petition was organised by Ricky-Lee Cooke on the Change.org website. “If you feel that the residents of Ashfield should be allowed to make their own decisions on which entertainers they would like to see in the town then please sign this petition,” the entry says.

A spokeswoman for Ashfield said: “The event was provisionally booked by the Council’s leisure operator (SLM Ltd) following an approach from Roy Chubby Brown’s Promotions Company. The booking form was received early February 2016, not November 2015 as stated.

“Following the receipt of the booking form, a Facebook promotion was posted on the Festival Hall Facebook page by SLM. Once officers of the council became aware of the booking the issue was taken to the council’s Political Leadership for a steer.”

She added: “In consultation with SLM a decision was taken not to go ahead with the event as the contents of the show were deemed not to fit with the council’s views. No posters, tickets or publicity have been produced as the contract was never signed and the booking never completed.

“There is no financial loss or missed income for Ashfield District Council. Given the media reaction we are confident that Roy Chubby Brown could secure an alternative venue in Ashfield but not a council-owned one.”