'Why do we have to pay to use the Triangle area?'

YEOVIL councillors have criticised Somerset Council for allegedly preventing certain civic events to be held within the newly-regenerated town centre.

- DANIEL MUMBY

Local councillors and Yeovil MP Adam Dance officially opened the new amphitheatre at The Triangle in late-January - one of several public realm improvements backed by a multi-million-pound grant from the government's future high streets fund.

While the amphitheatre has now been open for nearly four months, only a limited number of events have been staged there - and neither its fountain nor its giant TV screen are currently operational.

Yeovil Town Council members Adrian Wilkes and Tareth Casey have both criticised Somerset Council for trying to charge the town to hold a town crier event at the Triangle, arguing it “completely undermines the very reason the Triangle was built.”

Somerset Council has clarified it charges a flat rate to all free public events in Yeovil town centre, and that the fountains and TV screen would both enter operation very shortly.

Mr Wilkes - an independent councillor for the Abbey Manor South ward - vented his frustrations on his official Facebook page on May 13 following a discussion with town council chief executive Amanda Card the day before.