MINEHEAD is blooming despite a funding shortfall and a near crisis following the disbandment late last year of a volunteer-led band of stalwarts who had steered its floral displays for years. The decision by the Minehead in Bloom committee to step down and hand responsibility back to the town council because of the increasing difficulty in fund raising, led civic leaders to agree not to enter the regional or national Britain in Bloom competition in which it had previously won a clutch of coveted awards. But Cllr Stan Taylor, who ordered the flowers for this year's displays, said that despite the concerns, he had received numerous 'bouquets' over the standard of this year's efforts. "I have had a number of congratulatory messages from the general public who say the displays are very good, which is very encouraging." Cllr Taylor said the near crisis had followed West Somerset District Council's decision to axe its annual £3,000 grant to help fund some of the displays. This, coupled with the loss of a further £3,000 raised by the Minehead in Bloom committee, left many fearing that the town would be less than colourful for visitors. "The town council stepped in to replace the district council grant and we have made savings by not entering Britain in Bloom and not running our own local competitions. "But around £20,000 has still been spent on the displays and the results have been excellent." Cllr Taylor said it was hoped that a committee of five town councillors would take on responsibility for next year's displays. "We hope to have a theme, which we haven't had this year, and also to reinstate some of the local competitions, but in a slightly different form."
