'Culturally unique' carnival clubs to get new home

Four clubs which take part in world-famous illuminated carnivals look set to get a new home to build their displays.

A controversial planning application for new carnival sheds near Ilminster, where four local clubs would build their carts, has been approved by councillors.

South Somerset Carnival Park will be built on a field on the Dillington Estate, outside the town, after more than 10 years of negotiations.

Local parishes had objected to the large building being erected in open countryside, saying it was effectively an industrial unit, but the carnival clubs said this new site would preserve their "culturally unique" offering for future generations.⁠

Gemini, Harlequin, Rubalo and One Plus One are the clubs expected to move to the park.

Steve Dawe, joint chair of South Somerset Carnival Park, said the clubs were all facing "difficulties" with their current sites.

"We're trying to stabilise that problem and to allow the clubs to grow," he said.

Dawe said being a member of a carnival club also gave new skills to young people.

"Whether it's carpentry, electrical, the arts, decorating, design, and even some of the more financial and organising skills, all of these things aren't necessarily available in a school environment or in any other club."

Chris Baranowski, chair of Kingstone Parish Meeting, which covers the area where the park will be built, said there was "overwhelming support" for the carnivals.

However, he said, a recent parish meeting vote gave a "unanimous decision" to oppose the plans due to "serious highway landscape and ecology issues".

Council officers said:"the economic and social benefits are considered to outweigh the potential adverse environmental effects of the scheme".

At the final Somerset Council planning committee meeting, the park was voted through by five councillors in favour, with two voting against.

The carnival clubs will now need to raise the money to build the sheds, which organisers say could take years.

South Somerset District councillors had previously approved the plans by a narrow vote in January 2022.

A judicial review later that year, brought by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Somerset, found the district council wrongly allowed two councillors to vote who were connected to the application.

In Bridgwater, home of the oldest carnival in the UK, clubs are currently getting new £5m sheds to build their carts in on the Bristol Road site.

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