PRODUCERS of the longest-running television comedy series, Last of the Summer Wine, are threatening to turn their backs on the town that has been home to the show for more than 30 years.

The BBC programme will no longer be filmed in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, if residents continue to demand “unreasonable” compensation, they say.

Footage has already been shot of the character Nora Batty putting her stone cottage up for sale. Sources in the production team say that locals are demanding £500 for filming outside their home rather than the usual £50. Alan J. W. Bell, the executive producer, said that he would not tolerate the “ridiculous” demands.

A decision to quit Holmfirth and the Holme Valley would devastate a region connected with the series since 1973. The economy of Holmfirth is boosted by the tourism that the programme generates. The series has devotees in more than 25 countries and enjoys cult status in America. More than 60,000 people visit the former textile town each year.

Talks have been held between the BBC, residents and business leaders to resolve the crisis, which was sparked by the filming of Nora Batty’s fictional home. It is understood that a builder developing a house three doors away arranged for work to be done on the same day that the television crew wanted to film. Mr Bell said that the BBC would not back down. “We’ve paid out over the years to compensate people if the filming causes inconvenience, but it’s now got ridiculous,” he said.

“We appreciate that people need access to their homes and businesses, but they’re making crazy demands on us. We’ve already had to stop using some areas because of the money people wanted us to pay.

“We shall be very sad if we have to stop filming scenes in Holmfirth, but we cannot afford unreasonable demands.”

Sarah Barnes, 33, who works near Nora Batty’s home, said: “They’re never much bother. The crew is very friendly and it certainly brings a lot of tourists into Holmfirth. It would be a great shame if they had to move. It would be the people of Holmfirth who would be the real losers.” However, Kevin Power, 41, who has lived and worked in Holmfirth all his life, said: “I know they bring a lot of tourism in but they have turned it in to a place where locals can’t even afford to live. I think we would be better if they went.”

Andrew Bray, a greengrocer who is the president of the Holme Valley Business Association, said that the relationship had been mainly happy and beneficial.

“Summer Wine and the people of Holmfirth have worked together for a long time,” he said. “We need the BBC and they need us. There’s a lot of goodwill, but from time to time you do get little hiccups.”

Mr Bray said that the challenge was for each side to recognise the daily pressures “which can sometimes cause people to feel very frustrated”.

“The filming sometimes feels like an intrusion and the BBC has been very appreciative of Holmfirth’s tolerance, but it’s important that we recognise how much the town depends on Summer Wine,” he added. Mr Bray denied that residents were exploiting the BBC. “We know this is Holmfirth, not Hollywood,” he said.

It has been estimated that daily facility fees for a light entertainment programme typically range from £400 for the exterior filming of a property rising to £900 for a television drama and £1,200 for a feature film.

Fees per hour for filming at London Zoo are £225, London City Airport costs £350 and the London Underground from £300 per hour.

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