WELLINGTON Town Council has agreed to spending out more than £9,000 on grass cutting at a play area and emptying dog bin across the town in the 2023-24 financial year – although it could be cheaper if the authority did it themselves.

The council’s environment and open spaces committee agreed on March 21 to spend £8,907 plus VAT for ten grass cuts a year at the Richards Close play area in Wellington and the emptying of dog bins twice a week across the town.

The work has been taken on by the Somerset West and Taunton District Council which will fold on April 1 when the new Somerset Council unitary authority comes into life and takes on the contract.

Councillors suggested that if the town council had its own community warden – that work could be undertaken by them and at a cheaper cost.

And town clerk Dave Farrow said: “If we had a community warden it would probably be cheaper.”

Mr Farrow added: “We will be getting more of an idea next year as to what will be coming our way (extra responsibilities) because of the unitary authority.

“We don’t want to jump too quickly and doing it ourselves – let’s see what is happening and we’ll monitor this.”

Cllr Marcus Barr said: “We just need to make sure that this work gets done – especially when it goes over to the new Somerset Council.”