TOWN councillors in Minehead were this week being asked to meet half of the estimated £2,200 cost of a defibrillator for Blenheim Gardens.

The lifesaving equipment would be fitted to the park’s bandstand by the Minehead Community Defib Group which has been helping to build an extensive network of publicly accessible defibrillators in the town.

Town clerk Ben Parker said: “Community defibrillators are becoming increasingly important and have saved countless lives across the country.”

Mr Parker said the defib group provided the ‘expertise, commitment, and continuity’ required to ensure the devices remained operational and accessible.

He said: “Their efforts have made a significant contribution to public safety and community wellbeing, helping to create a resilient and reliable network of emergency equipment for residents and visitors alike.”

Blenheim Gardens had been identified for some time as a potential site for a defibrillator as the gardens were heavily used by residents and visitors of all ages and there had been a number of isolated medical incidents in recent years.

Mr Parker said: “While there are defibrillators available within the wider area, the provision of a publicly accessible unit within the gardens itself would improve response times in the event of a cardiac emergency.

“In such situations, rapid access to a defibrillator can make a critical difference to the outcome.”

Mr Parker said the defib group was supportive of a partnership approach to installing a unit next to the bandstand with the council and the group each meeting half of the installation cost.

The group would retain ownership of it and be responsible for its insurance, management, and maintenance, including routine inspections, replacement of pads and batteries, and any associated ongoing costs.

Mr Parker said: “This partnership offers significant advantages beyond the sharing of installation costs.

“By working with the defibrillator group, the new unit would become part of Minehead’s established network of community defibrillators, ensuring consistency of equipment, maintenance standards, and operational procedures across the town.

“The group already manages and monitors a number of publicly accessible defibrillators and has established systems in place for regular inspections, record keeping, replacement of consumable items, and ensuring assets remain emergency ready.

“Incorporating the Blenheim Gardens unit into this existing network would provide a sustainable long-term management solution while avoiding the need for the council to establish separate maintenance and monitoring arrangements.

“While vandalism is always a consideration when installing public assets, experience suggests that defibrillators are generally well respected due to their lifesaving purpose

“Nevertheless, the defib group has confirmed that it will arrange and fund appropriate insurance cover for the unit, at least during its first year of operation.”

Mr Parker said councillors already had funds available to meet their share of the cost from the allocated budget for Blenheim Gardens.

He said ownership of the asset would rest with the defib group, which would fund its ongoing maintenance, but councillors might want to consider providing financial support for the group’s wider work in the future, should circumstances allow.