No Blooming Money For Town Entry

Wrexham will not be entering this years ‘Wales In Bloom’ competition as there is no money to fund it.

The Town Centre Forum was told the news when a query was raised about a 2014 entry.

Fees on the Wales In Bloom website indicate that it could cost several hundred pounds to enter, if not thousands if the Council apply in various catatogries. This is ignoring the extra costs of making flower beds and the like pretty for the event.

The Council’s webpage for last years event states “Wrexham Council are constantly trying to find ways to help support the Wales in Bloom campaign and one way is through it’s Roundabout Sponsorship Scheme.”

Council Leader Neil Rogers was at the meeting and gave a breakdown of the recently passed £227,000,000 budget and the knock on effect of savings that have to be made in the authority saying “It is a case of looking at whats mandatory and what is discretionary.”

The Wales In Bloom entry is not seen as vital, and therefore appears not to be funded privately or publically this year.

Cllr Rogers went on to explain to Town Centre Forum members more about the savings to be made and the future economic picture, saying; “We don’t have to grit the roads, but we do, and we have been very lucky this year with the weather, so we have saved some money on that”.

Speaking about future planned cuts he said; “The plan will be tough, realistic and will have an impact.

“Next year will be far worse, and the year after.

“A fifth of our money will disappear, its a huge challenge to us.”

Speaking about recent Council Tax rises he said; “We could have increased council tax by another 2% , which would have raised about £500,000 , which in an organisation like Wrexham Council is not a lot of money.

After the elongated answer to the question , Town Centre Forum Chairman Mr Critchley said; “…and thats why we are not doing Wrexham in Bloom.”