COUNCIL taxpayers will have to fork out more than £3,000 to put up 27 flower baskets in Norton.

At the same time when householder's annual bill was increased by three per cent, town councillors have agreed to spend thousands of pounds on buying flower containers and watering them over the dry summer months.

Last year the town was bereft of blooms but now Commercial Street, Church Street and County Bridge will be a decked out with hanging baskets of petunias and pansies, thanks to the local council.

Coun Allin Jenkins, who backed the Norton in Bloom scheme, said costs have rocketed because they have had to buy new brackets to hand the wire baskets on.

He said: "There were no flower baskets in Norton last year and we hope that the baskets will enhance the local area and Commercial Street in particular. As the lamp posts have recently been replaced we need to buy new brackets to hang the baskets. This means that the cost is three times that of normal years but it is a one-off outlay. Norton in Bloom is all part of the scheme to improve the aspect of Commercial Street and I think it is well worth the money."

In a report to the council it has been revealed that the cost of the brackets will be £1,161, the 27 baskets will cost £1,057 and maintenance of the flowers is expected to be in the region of £1,120.

Coun Jenkins said enlisting the help of volunteers to help with the maintenance of the plants was out of the question.

He added: "We have to think of health and safety and if somebody was to injure themselves the council could be liable and face paying out huge sums in compensation.

Unfortunately that's a sign of the times."

Money could be better spent

FLAMINGO Land worker, David Shepherd, 50, said: "The baskets will look nice but most people do their shopping in Malton so nobody will see them. It's seems like an awful lot of money which could be spent on things that would be of more benefit to the local community."

Joiner Des Evans, 50, from Norton, said: "Our council tax bills keep creeping up - and for what? It's commendable that they want to improve the area but there are more urgent things that need doing, like improving the roads."

Mother-of-three Vicky Hardy, 27, from Norton, said: "£3,000 is an awful lot of money and when they put the flower baskets up kids will only wreck them. Money needs to be poured into giving young people something to do around here. There is nowhere for them to play and I can't see anything happening with King George's field."

Pensioner Sylvia Brockless, 80, said: "The Derwent Arms always looks nice and some other businesses make the effort so it should be up to them to brighten the area up. The town council say they have to pay someone to water the flower baskets but there are plenty of people out of work, they should do it."