CARNIVAL: Great support for South Somerset Carnival Park project

THE official launch yesterday (Saturday, June 13, 2015) of the project to create a South Somerset Carnival Park was greeted with much enthusiasm.

The project’s committee had a stall at Ilminster Midsummer Experience’s street market in the town where members handed out leaflets and spoke with passers-by about the importance of having a headquarters for local Carnival clubs to build their entries.

The committee, recently formed to explore and develop the formation of a Carnival Park to serve the South Somerset Federation Clubs, was well supported by members of many local clubs together with groups and individuals.

A mix of local town and district councillors including Cllrs Andy Kenton, Jason Baker and Jenny Kenton from Chard and Ilminster’s Cllr Carol Goodall also turned out to throw their support behind the project.

Chairman of the Ilminster Carnival Committee, Kym Toms, who is also joint chairman of the South Somerset Carnival Park Committee, said that the turnout and enthusiasm of the group was matched by the interest from the public on the day.

“The aim of the group in these initial stages is raise our public profile, and engage locally to identify an area of land where a Carnival Park could be created,” she said.

“We appreciate the task ahead of us and equally appreciate that it won't be easy but the possible outcome is without doubt in need.”

PHOTOS - TOP AND RIGHT: Supporting the South Somerset Carnival Park scheme at Ilminster yesterday (Saturday, June 13, 2015).

The need for a Carnival Park is backed by research carried out by the committee.

Twenty years ago in 1995 there were 22 clubs within the South Somerset Federation of Carnivals – 13 of which were based within the immediate Ilminster and Chard areas.

That number today, 20 years later was slashed to just seven clubs and only three of those were still going from 1995.

Kym added: “Similar Carnival Park facilities in both Bridgwater and Glastonbury serving the County Carnival Circuit has helped to see off this decline in club numbers on that circuit, by bringing an amount of stability.”

The SSCPC will be at other events throughout the summer and is about to embark on lobbying campaigns to town, district and the county council. The committee is urging land owners to help it identify a plot in the region of two acres which can be bought or rented and ultimately used for this purpose.

Kym added: “Many of the remaining clubs are already on borrowed time. Without such a facility the future of our beloved South Somerset Federation winter carnivals hangs in the balance.”

Anyone wanting further information or would like to support the CarnivalPark project – phone either 01460-52432, 07957-574424 or email sscp.committee@outlook.com .

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