News
LOCAL PEOPLE INVITED TO ATTEND TOWN MEETING
RESIDENTS in Ilminster are being invited to attend the town’s annual meeting to be held next week.
All registered Local Government electors of the Ilminster are welcome to go along to the event where they will also have the chance to make comments on the proposed skate park and multi-use games area for the town’s Recreation Ground.
The meeting takes place on Thursday May 3 at 7pm and will be held at Swanmead School in the town.
The Mayor of Ilminster Councillor Carol Goodall will report on the council’s activities during the past year and there will be an opportunity for the people to raise issues of concern or ask questions.
Free chips on offer to young people who support a new skate park 
Youngsters who are in favour of a new skate park for Ilminster are being urged to meet up on Tuesday night (April 17th) at 7pm at the Market House in the town to discuss the plans.
Those who attend the event are being offered free chips by youth organisation StreetSpace which is working in partnership with Ilminster Town Council to bring about a new skate park at the Recreation Ground.
The council needs the help of youngsters to bring about this project so please do come along!
Local people's thoughts wanted on skate park and MUGA proposals
Residents in Ilminster are being asked for their views on Ilminster Town Council's plans for a new skate park and multi-use games area on the town's recreation ground.
A consultation event has been organised for Easter Sunday (April 8th) between 10.30am and 1pm where visitors will be able to view photos and plans and give their ideas and opinions on the proposed new facilities.
The event coincides with the Jubilee Committee's Easter Egg Hunt, also at the same time. so it is hoped many people will come down and speak to local councillors about their thoughts.
Youngsters get gardening
with Ilminster Town Council
BRIGHT daffodils will soon be adorning parts of Ilminster’s Recreation Ground thanks to the efforts of pre-school youngsters who joined Ilminster Town Council for a special gardening session.
Children from Sunny-Ile Pre-School were invited by the Town Council to come down to the Recreation Ground and plant daffodil bulbs accompanied by the Deputy Mayor Roger Swann and Deputy Open Spaces Chairman John Pallister.
The Council’s two Open Spaces Wardens Tony Jones and Andrew Hensher put their green fingers into action and showed the youngsters what to do to fill the 20 holes they created near the cricket pavilion.
Councillor Swann said: “"It was a real pleasure to see the young children listening to every word of Andrew the Park Keeper and their enthusiasm for planting the bulbs was a joy to behold".
Pre-school leader Louise Smith said the children really enjoyed themselves in the open air and loved planting more than 250 bulbs as well as listening to the story of ‘Percy the Park Keeper’ read by Mr Hensher.
In addition to this each child went away with a daffodil bulb they planted themselves as a thank you for their efforts.
The bulbs were part of a large supply of 2,000 generously donated to the town by South Somerset District Council.
These have been planted by the council wardens at various places around the Recreation Ground in particularly around benches to make an attractive spring time display.
Ilminster Town Council marks National Tree Week
MEMBERS of Ilminster Town Council joined the Mayor for the annual tree planting ceremony on Saturday (December 3) on the Recreation Ground off Canal Way.
Town Mayor Councillor Carol Goodall was assisted by fellow councillors to plant a 3.5 metre Copper Beech tree to mark the 37th annual National Tree Week organised by The Tree Council.
The organisation has urged people who care for their environment to take that step and put one tree or more in the ground.
Cllr Goodall said: “Ilminster Town Council is proud to continue to support this initiative as it has been proven that trees planted close to where people live, work or study is good for them as they can have positive effects on mental health and well act as an antidote to stressful lifestyles, even aiding recuperation from illness.”
In the photo: With Mayor Councillor Goodall are (left to right) Councillor David Miller, Open Spaces Senior Warden Tony Jones, Town Clerk Julia Thorne, and Councillors Andrew Lawson, Jo Sothern, and John Pallister.
Ilminster is planning a big weekend to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubille
The main focus of the Celebrations will take place on Sunday 3 June on the recreation ground and everyone is welcome. the organising committee will have ensured there is a lot to do from noon till midnight.
Ilminster Town Council is calling on local organisations and individuals to get involved with plans for the Town's Queen's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations.
If any organisation would like to help with marshalling, running a refreshment stall, craft and activity stalls or even assist in the running of an activity such as a tug-of-war we would like to hear from you. You can download and complete a form from the Town Council's website. Forms need to be returned by 20 December and the Queens Diamond Jubilee working group will be in touch early in the New Year.
This is a chance for the community of Ilminster to come together and celebrate as well as raise money for oue community groups.
Diamond Jubilee Interest Form
London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Route Visits Ilminster
Ilminster will be positively glowing when it welcomes the Olympic Torch Relay on Tuesday 22 May 2012.
This will be an opportunity for residents in the town and surrounding communities to extend a welcome to the Olympic Flame and share the excitement of the London 2012 games.
Ilminster, Yeovil, Ilchester and Somerton are four of over 1,000 villages, towns and cities announced by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) through which the Olympic Flame will be carried by Torchbearers during the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay which is presented by Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung. LOCOG has worked closely with representatives from a number of sectors in South Somerset to devise the route.
Cllr Sylvia Seal, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture at South Somerset District Council, commented, “This is wonderful news for South Somerset. We are proud that the Olympic Torch Relay will be visiting our district.
“An event like this will shine a light on our district and I am positive that local residents will turn out in large numbers to welcome the flame and support members of the community who have been chosen to run the with Olympic Flame
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to witness the spectacle of the Olympic Torch Relay in our own ‘back yard.’
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG said: ‘We are thrilled to confirm that Ilminster, Yeovil, Ilchester and Somerton will act as host locations for the Olympic Flame, extending an invitation to people in South Somerset to welcome the Olympic Torch Relay during its journey around the UK. This is the UK’s moment to shine and I want to encourage people across South Somerset to start planning how they can be part of this once in a lifetime opportunity and show their support for the inspirational Torchbearers chosen to carry the Olympic Flame as we count down to the start of the Olympic Games.
Search for Ilminster’s great citizens
Ilminster Town Council is making its annual search for somebody in the town who has stood out from others and made a significant contribution to the community.
Nominations are being sought for the Ilminster Citizens Award to enable townsfolk to recognise those people who have made a difference to Ilminster and its residents.
It is hoped that it will attract nominees who come from a variety of different backgrounds who have made a valuable input into local society.
Ilminster Mayor Councillor Carol Goodall said “This is an opportunity for Ilminster residents to get their thinking caps on and come up with suggestions for worthy citizens.
“There are a number of people in our community who do a lot of good work for the town and its people but who often go unrecognised, so now is the time for their friends or relatives to put their names forward so they can get the credit and recognition they deserve.
“It would be great to see nominations from people of different backgrounds who have provided a service to the town or its inhabitants in a variety of different ways.”
Nominees and those nominating must be on the electoral roll for Ilminster and applications should be received by the town council by 5pm on Monday September 5.
Nomination forms and details of eligibility can be obtained from the town council offices by visiting the offices in North Street or by calling 01460 52149 by emailing town.council@ilminster.gov.uk, or by downloading it from here. The achievement will be presented as part of Ilminster Town Council’s annual awards evening which will take place on Thursday September 22 at 7pm at The Shrubbery Hotel.
Calling green-fingered folks for annual floral competition
TOWNSFOLK and business people in the town who have flair with flowers and have a head for horticulture are being encouraged to join in Ilminster’s annual floral competition.
The contest, which is run by Ilminster Town Council, will be judged in July but local people and traders are being advised to think ahead and get their gardens, window boxes and hanging baskets and planters looking their best in preparation for this year’s event.
It is hoped there will be a number of green-fingered local residents and businesses participating to create some fantastic floral arrangements around Ilminster and bring an array of colour to the town.
Ilminster Mayor Councillor Carol Goodall wanted to encourage all gardening enthusiasts to get involved.
She said: “All amateur gardeners who live or work in Ilminster can enter the competition which is free so I hope they will give it a go.
“There are categories to suit everybody whether your speciality is flowers, vegetables, hanging baskets, window boxes or nature conservation.
“It would be great to enthuse people who have never entered before and attract new entrants to compete against the dedicated regular participants.
“I would encourage anybody thinking about entering to grab their trowels and get their hands dirty!”
There are a variety of commercial and private home sections to enter including categories for communal gardens, pubs, hotels and guest houses, shops and other businesses as well as for private residences.
Prizes of £30, £20, and £15 will also be awarded to the first, second and third places in the private residences sections.
There will also be certificates given for first, second, third and highly commended in all the categories.
The overall winner will receive the Archie Gooch Cup with all prizes to be presented at the town council’s awards evening to be held in the autumn.
A trophy, provided by Bilby’s at Minstrels, will be awarded for the best commercial display. Deadline for entries is July 11 and judging will take place on July 15.
For competition entry forms and rules of entry contact Ilminster Town Council by calling into the council offices at North Street or email town.council@ilminster.gov.uk
Residents encouraged to use their artistic skills for annual scarecrow competition
ILMINSTER residents and businesses are being urged to get their entries in quick for the town’s annual scarecrow competition as entries need to be received by next Thursday (June 2).
The competition, run by Ilminster Town Council, is in its third year and is once again being arranged to coincide with the Ilminster Experience Weekend of June 9th to 12th.
Scarecrows must be made from scratch but do not need to be a traditional scarecrow with participants free to let their imaginations run wild.
Ilminster Mayor Councillor Carol Goodall said: “We hope there will be quite a few entries for the competition as it is a really great community event in which anybody can get involved from individuals to whole families.
“There has been a fantastic response in previous years with some wonderful creations including characters from the Wizard of Oz, and Pirates of the Caribbean.
“Our councillors are looking forward to seeing what ideas people come up with and to seeing the entertaining characters dotted around the town.”
Local traders are also being encouraged to get their creative juices flowing and join in the competition to perhaps highlight their particular business.
Entries should be up to a height of 1.8 metres and will be judged on strength, durability to weather, imagination, and character.
They can be as a single entry, family or group and should include an element of plant material which can be dried, fresh or living.
Scarecrows should be on display from midday Monday June 6th until Sunday evening of June 12th to enable visitors to the Ilminster Experience to walk around the town and view the entries.
Judging will be performed by three town councillors and winners will be informed on June 9th.
There will be prizes of £30, £20 and £15 for first, second and third places which will be awarded at the town council’s presentation evening later in the year.
All entries must be received by the town council by noon on Thursday June 2.
For competition entry forms and rules of entry contact Ilminster Town Council by calling into the council offices at North Street or by emailing town.council@ilminster.gov.uk
Pic: ‘Gary the Gardener’ a former winning entry for the annual competition.