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Blooming row over flower jaunt costs
A COLOURFUL row is blooming over £3,000 jaunts to national flower finals – at the tax-payers' expense.
Four people – believed to include Fylde councillors – will stay over-night in Coventry in September for the national final of Britain in Bloom, backing finalist Lytham, which won the Best Small Coastal town in the North West award.
Two months later, a dele-gation will also stay in a hotel in London for the international Nations in Bloom event.
The trips' costs – 3,000 each – were slammed today by a Kirkham councillor.
Coun Liz Oades, who has previously worked on Kirkham in Bloom bid, feels the allowance is excessive and should instead be used to maintain the borough's parks.
She said: "I don't think we should be putting this level of funding into this.
"I congratulate Lytham on getting to the final but 3,000 is a bit over the top.
"This decision was taken at the same time as the council decided not to put any extra money into benches and footpaths in parks across the Fylde.
"We've had 30 complaints in four years from people who have fallen over."
Coun Oades feels the decision represents double standards by the council.
She said: "This money is supposed to pay for people to travel and stay over.
"It certainly should not cost anything like 3,000.
"When Kirkham and Wesham went to London for the final, two people from the group and an officer went down, and that money came out of our pockets."
Coun Tim Ashton, portfolio holder for Street-scene at Fylde Council, says four representatives will travel to the finals.
He said: "This is no different to what has happened in the past or will happen in the future.
"Similar funding was provided when Kirkham got to the finals.
"This is a big event for Lytham – it is the first time they have reached the national final.
"If you drive round Fylde it's easy to see the hard work which has done by volunteers, which the council can't afford to do. It is all about priorities and this is one."
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Weather for Blackpool
Monday 13 February 2012
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