Westbury carnival off the agenda
1:00pm Saturday 11th February 2012 in News By Will Frampton
Hopes for the resurrection of Westbury Carnival after 21 years have been dashed for the third year running, due to a lack of volunteers coming forward to help.
The news comes despite two separate committees having been set up to raise support for the event, leaving organisers dispirited.
One of the first acts of Stephen Miles when he became a town councillor in April 2010 was to call on the council to get the carnival going again.
However his plans, like those of councillors back in 2007, met with little commitment then and again last year, despite the enthusiasm expressed by many residents.
In September last year The Crescent resident Sue Alexander, frustrated by the lack of progress, set up a second committee with help from Melksham Carnival organiser Katherine Allwood.
Cllr Miles, a professional musician, claims the division between the two committees contributed to the lack of interest.
“There is a general enthusiasm in the town for a carnival, but having two groups didn’t help,” he said.
“That enthusiasm doesn’t translate into getting involved, and one thing people don’t like is division.
“The carnival won’t take place at all if this happens again.
“There are enough problems facing the event, as other carnival groups have been struggling with increasing costs and regulation.
“It is very disappointing that we have to wait.
“The earliest I can see it happening is 2013, if then.
“But I’m not one for giving up on something once I have started.”
Mrs Alexander who runs Sapphire Twirlstars majorettes group, said she had closed her committee to join Cllr Andrews’, but had since learned that he had given up for this year.
“If I had known he was going to stop his committee I would have kept mine going,” she said.
“I will be happy to work with him to run the carnival next year, or I will consider starting up my group again if he gives up on it.
“I want Westbury to have a carnival, people here want it and it would be good for the town. It just needs people to get involved.”
