Carnival’s future rests on bid for a new home
THE future of one of Somerset’s beloved carnival circuits could be secured if plans for a new storage and construction facility are approved.
The South Somerset carnival circuit comprises the towns of Chard, Ilminster, Taunton and Wellington – though due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, only Chard is planning any form of procession this autumn.
The South Somerset Carnival Park Committee has teamed up with Ilminster Town Council to put forward plans for a new facility just outside the town where carnival floats – or carts – can be constructed and stored when they’re not being used or transported to and from events.
South Somerset District Council is expected to make a decision on the plans in the new year, which the carnival organisers hope will enable a revival in the numbers of clubs participating in each event.
If approved, the facility will be built on Longforward Lane in the hamlet of Knightstone near Ilminster.
The building will be sub-divided into five units, with three being occupied by the larger clubs on the circuit and the other two being made available to smaller clubs, majorettes and other volunteers.
A spokesman for the carnival committee said: “Over the last 20 years, clubs entering mounted entries within the South Somerset Federation has fallen from 22 to only seven.
“In nearly all cases, this is due to the availability of build locations and storage facilities for these entries.
“The continued viability, in the current format, of the remaining clubs and the South Somerset Federation itself, in the medium term, rests on the creation of a carnival park.
“The clubs need secure and permanent facilities so the volunteer members can grow and develop their clubs, which in turn support the local community and local business alike.
“Without such a facility, in the medium term clubs will fold, skills will be lost, the social, economic and business development benefits of carnival will be lost forever.”
The carnival committee has been campaigning for this facility for a number of years, attracting the support of several local councillors – including
In the medium term clubs will fold, skills will be lost, the benefits of carnival will be lost forever CARNIVAL SPOKESMAN
Jenny Kenton (Blackdown and Tatworth) and Jason Baker (Chard Holyrood).
The nearest comparable facility is the Butler Carnival Park in Glastonbury – but Glastonbury forms part of the separate Guy Fawkes carnival circuit, which also comprises Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea, Shepton Mallet, Wells and Weston-super-Mare.
The spokesman added: “There are few other activities where four generations of one family volunteer their free time with friends to achieve a common goal.”