Rotherham Council REFUSES to honour comedy legends the Chuckle Brothers

Rotherham Advertiser editor Andrew Mosley said the council’s decision was a “slap in the face for Barry and Paul and all they have done to put Rotherham on the map”.

Despite Rotherham Borough Council wanting to rename the area outside of Boots in the town centre — councillors this afternoon (Wednesday) voted against the idea to name it in honour of Paul and Barry Elliott.

Around 700 people signed our Chuckle Square petition — but instead councillors voted to recommend a street or children’s play area in a new housing development in 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”.

Mr Mosley said: “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.”

Read more on this in this week’s Advertiser.