COUNCIL cut backs have killed Stourbridge's entry in the prestigious Heart of England in Bloom campaign this year.

Stourbridge in Bloom has won eight consecutive gold awards but local authority cuts have taken their toll and forced organiser David Harcourt to take the unprecedented step of cancelling a bid for further glory this year.

He had hoped to fund the town's 2016 Bloom campaign through sponsorship but he told the News: "We've withdrawn our entry because of all the funding cuts that have come over the whole borough; we're not collecting sponsors quick enough to get all this replanted.

"Rather than cobble something together that's not up to standard - it's better that we stand back and look at what we need to do for the future, particularly with more sustainable planting and sustainable sponsorship.

"What we don't want to do is compromise the standard we've already achieved."

Dudley Council had traditionally footed the bill for watering large planters and lamp-post hanging baskets in the town centre - and the bedding plants that go in them.

But it was confirmed earlier this year that the authority would look to save £25,000 from its 'in Bloom' budget across the borough due to financial constraints stemming from lower levels of funding from central government.

Mr Harcourt said around £12,000 would need to be sourced each year to cover the costs of planting and watering to enable Stourbridge to re-enter the Bloom campaign, which encourages communities to work together to improve their environment.

But he remains hopeful the town can blossom once again in the future and he said: "There’s all sorts of things we can do. It needs to be sustainable.

"There was no sense in trying to do something half-measured. We have to recalibrate."

Alan Lunt, strategic director at Dudley Council, said: “We need to look for new ways of delivering the ‘in Bloom’ events in the light of reduced funding for services and will be looking to seek greater input from voluntary and business groups and the wider community.

"We will work with them in an advisory capacity to look at sourcing external funding such as through the community forums.”

What do you think about Stourbridge pulling out of the Bloom campaign? Do you have a business which could help with sponsorship to keep the town looking rosy? Have your say by clicking on this story on our website www.stourbridgenews.co.uk or email bev.holder@stourbridgenews.co.uk