Council withdraws Portishead in Bloom funding

A QUESTION mark is hanging over the future of Portishead in Bloom - after North Somerset Council announced it is to withdraw its funding for the project.

North Somerset Council has said it will no longer fund the planting and watering of beds, hanging baskets and troughs around the town to save an estimated £20,000 a year.

The authority - which is facing saving £47 million over the next four years -  currently plants, maintains and waters the carousels and the troughs on top of the Somerset Hall during the summer.

It is also responsible for planting and maintaining a number of flower beds in Portishead, including those at Brampton Way, Victoria Court and Rodmoor Gardens.

The council cutbacks will affect a total of 83 hanging baskets, 19 troughs and 312 square metres of planted bedding around the town.

The news comes just days after the town was judged for the annual South West in Bloom competition.

Portishead in Bloom launched in 1996 and is run entirely by volunteers and for the last three years has won gold medals in the contest.

The group has also secured gold medals at the national competitions, competing against large cities including Birmingham.

In the run up to the annual awards volunteers can clock up more than 400 hours between them tending to the flower beds, planting and litter picking.

Members of Portishead in Bloom say they are 'devastated' at the news and see no way they can continue without North Somerset's support.

Portishead in Bloom chairman, Sandy Tebbutt, said: "This news is a real blow to Portishead in Bloom - we are devastated.

"It is hard to see how we will be able to continue without the support of North Somerset Council.

"These cutbacks mean we are very unlikely to be able to continue to enter the annual South West in Bloom competition.

"The town looks wonderful due to hard work of our volunteers and the support of North Somerset.

"We are very worried that the town will suffer as a result of these cuts."

The group spends around £10,000 a year - a chunk of which comes from Portishead Town Council - on keeping the town looking its best, around a third of which is spent on watering.

The group already maintains a number of flower beds around the town as well as planting out the planters and carousels along the High Street during the winter.

Volunteers also raise thousands of pounds each year, organising an annual open gardens event, holding plant sales and manning stalls at events including the town's Victorian evening and flower show.

Portishead councillor Reyna Knight said she was disappointed at the news.

Mrs Knight said: "This is a real blow for Portishead.

"Portishead in Bloom is a first class voluntary organisation and this news will devastate the town."

Other towns can also expect to see cuts to their planting and maintenance to their open spaces as North Somerset battles to balance its books.