By Barry Knott

WELLINGTON Carnival, one of the town’s biggest events, is in serious danger of not being staged this year.

It follows the decision of carnival chair Sharron Collins who has changed her mind and decided to step down.

Sharron lives in Ottery St Mary and only agreed in November to carry on after being ‘begged’ to continue by other carnival clubs in the area.

She said at the time: “I am doing it for fellow carnivalites. They still want Wellington to have a carnival.”

Last September’s carnival was hit by rain and takings were considerably down on the previous year. The chair also revealed she received abusive phone calls regarding road closures which she could have ‘done without.’

The loss of Wellington Carnival would not affect the town’s street fair which will be held on Sunday, June 7. Plans are said to be ‘well underway’ for this event.

Wellington Carnival committee issued the following statement to the WWN on Monday: “We are holding an Emergency General Meeting on Wednesday, March 11, at the Beambridge Inn. Due to circumstances beyond our control we are now seeking a Chair and Secretary to assist with the organisation of Wellington Carnival 2020.

“If we are unsuccessful in recruiting a Chair and Secretary – there will be NO Wellington Carnival for 2020. If you are interested in Carnival and keeping a long-standing tradition in the town going, please come along to the Beambridge, as we would love to meet you.

“Wellington (Somerset) Carnival Committee is a Limited Company and ideally the new Chair and Secretary would need to be registered as Company Directors. However, Please Please do not let this put you off and the resigning Chair has a commitment to remain a Director for a handover period – so you would not be left to go it alone.

“As a committee we hold one meeting a month – usually at the Beambridge Inn and its usually the 2nd Tuesday of the month.

“Wellington Street Fair is still going ahead on Sunday, June 7 – plans for this are well underway see our Facebook Page for more information, if you are interested in having a stall. Alongside the EGM we will be hosting our Donations Presentation – Invites are in the process of being sent out.

‘If you are interested and wanted further information before the EGM, please feel free to call Sharon on 07962 370176.”’