From April, Minehead will take charge of 15 parks and green spaces, thanks to a new local management deal.
Minehead: Starting April 1, the town will manage its green spaces more locally. This change comes from a new deal with the town council.
Somerset Council reached out to local councils after declaring a financial emergency. They needed help to run services and avoid cuts due to a £100 million budget gap.
Other towns like Bridgwater and Yeovil have already signed similar deals. Now, Minehead is joining in, taking over the management of several parks and green areas.
Under this new agreement, Minehead Town Council will be responsible for 15 green spaces, including Blenheim Gardens and Bratton Park. They’ll also manage play areas and open spaces.
Besides the parks, the town council will handle services like the Alexandra Road car park and bus shelters. They’ll also take care of grass cutting and the Minehead War Memorial.
This shift is expected to save Somerset Council around £121,800 a year in maintenance costs. Chris Hall, the council’s executive director, mentioned that this could help Minehead secure a new swimming pool.
In January 2022, land was set aside for a potential pool, but a study later showed it might not be financially viable. However, the Alexandra Road car park is seen as key for future community projects.
Hall noted that the car park’s location next to the new community center could support plans for a swimming pool. The town council is exploring options to make this happen.
They’re looking at integrating the car park with the community center and football club, which could also allow for renewable energy use to keep costs down.
While the car park generates income for Somerset Council, transferring it to the town council is seen as a way to develop a community asset for Minehead.
