Sedgemoor defends decision to not bid for Olympic Torch relay

8:00am Tuesday 29th May 2012 in News By Andrew McGill

Sedgemoor defends decision to not bid for Olympic Torch relay Sedgemoor defends decision to not bid for Olympic Torch relay

Sedgemoor District Council this week defended its decision not to bid for the Olympic Torch to pass through the region.

Thousands of spectators turned out last week to watch the flame being carried through West Somerset, Taunton and Glastonbury, but bypass Sedgemoor.

Council bosses had said they believed it would be too expensive to host the Torch.

Some Mercury readers have criticised Sedgemoor District Council for not putting itself forward to stage part of the Torch relay.

Roger Anniss, of Cannington, said: “The decision denied thousands of residents the opportunity to savour this once in a lifetime experience."

Estimates put the cost of hosting the Torch in Taunton Deane at £40,000, but it is thought factoring in the loss of council officers’ time may have increased that figure.

In response, Sedgemoor District Council said it had taken the decision with taxpayers’ interests at heart and referred to its position statement which was made earlier this year.

Comments(8)

MBR Extreme says...
10:29am Tue 29 May 12

Disgrace,and no tour of Britain either

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juankerr says...
11:42am Tue 29 May 12

what a surprise this council is a joke. can they focus on getting some decent shops in the town center since so many are closed and the population increases with more and more houses being built i doubt it nfb.

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Anonymous Me says...
11:45am Tue 29 May 12

I don't understand what the attraction is, if you want to see a flame, just strike a match !!!!
What's the big deal ? I also thought there was only going to be one or two torches that would get passed around, not issuing 8000 for each person to carry for 300m !!! What a waste of money.
When London 'won' the bid to host the Olympics, I thought more like 'booby prize', so much spent just so a chosen few can soak up the limelight and wear a medal.

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frags27 says...
12:20pm Tue 29 May 12

Maybe its because they didn't want anyone to see the state of the town center as it was passing through and might get picked up on TV! Shot themselves in the foot really as I hear a lot of money was spent in Street Town center and Taunton due to the extra people who did some shopping afterwards and also grabbed early breakfast whilst waiting. You didn't have to go far if you wanted to be part of it Taunton or Street is only about 13 miles each which is I believe what the aim of the torch was so it wasn't too far for anybody interested to watch. Is anyone surprised, I wasn't by our Town Council they aren't interested in listening to what the people want that is easy to see in all other articles posted on here.

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BaldCarl2 says...
9:07pm Tue 29 May 12

Eh, leave the council alone.

It would only be the sick, lame and lazy that would have been around to see it anyway.

Instead, they'll have to settle for watching it on their 50 inch plasmas. On sky of course ;)

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Rosy01 says...
8:40am Wed 30 May 12

Disgusting that the people of Bridgwater was cheated out of chance to watch the olympic torch!! Can not inmagine what they will spend the money they saved by not bidding for the torch on!! will wait to see if there is any changes that we will benefit from them not doing so and we should not have needed to travel to Taunton or Street. Personally i think it because SDC would be embarrassed as to what they have let the town become!! A dirty run down town from one end of Bridgwater to the other. Not just empty grotty looking shops but filthy roads and pavements. Makes me wonder Do any of the town council staff actually live in within Bridgwater to even notice what our historic town has become. Come on SDC put the pride back into Bridgwater and lift the lives of people living here and moving here.

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latitude says...
12:57pm Wed 30 May 12

This is simply a case of "You're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't". That is all.

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cidreman says...
8:35am Thu 31 May 12

Empty shops , dirty streets ,and pavements , no swimming pool ...But Bridgwater as got the 4 x day event called the Fair , earns a income for SDC
And Bridgwater Carnival which attracts over 100, 000 spectators and raises £20,000 for local charities once a year
so this should be enough excitement for 5 x days @ year for people living in Bridgwater .

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