Hospice donation plan rejected. (From Bridgwater Mercury)

Hospice donation plan rejected.

8:39am Wednesday 11th October 2006 in Bridgwater Area News By Andy Whelan

BRIDGWATER Town Council has shelved plans to donate tens of thousands of pounds of council tax money to an out-of-town charity.

Councillors agreed on Thursday not to sponsor a new room at St Margaret's Somerset Hospice in Taunton at a cost of £44,869.

But members did not rule out the possibility of making a donation to the charity in the future through its grant scheme.

Mayor Cllr Pat Parker said: "It would be my recommendation to this council at this point in time to put it on the back burner and see if we get more reaction from the people of Bridgwater."

The authority agreed it was unwise to donate around a third of its annual budget to the charity without having the overwhelming support of townsfolk.

A recent poll on the Mercury's website recorded that just over half - 53 per cent - of voters were against the idea of funding the charity and thought money should stay in Bridgwater. A total 47 per cent thought St Margaret's should get the sum.

It was also revealed there was an even split among those that contacted the council to air their views.

Cllr John Turner said: "As far as I'm concerned that unless we have an overwhelming decision one way or another there is no way to go.

"If you honour what the people in the town have said then that is the course of action I would advocate."

Other councillors feared that making a donation to a Taunton charity would set a precedent that could result in requests from other organisations.

Cllr Philip Smeed said: "It isn't what we do now it is the precedent for the future. We do have a children's hospice on the outside of Bristol and if one wants to extrapolate we have the animal rescue centre down in Taunton.

"That is a path that we might go down if we do not give it due consideration."

Although the authority ruled out donating the full amount to St Margaret's, it said it would consider an application for a grant should they receive one.

Town clerk Alan Hurford said: "The council will not be making the donation for the sort of figure that was being talked about.

"What I will be doing is informing them that we have a grant scheme and advising them to make an application under that if they so wish."