Community helping Wellington Food Town launch

Twelve thousand leaflets are being delivered to homes and businesses in and around Wellington as part of a campaign to raise awareness of the launch of Wellington Food Town on December 2.

Town councillors, local scouts, local dairy milkmen, and even some of the Cinderella characters from the local pantomime group have all offered their help as the community rallies round to make sure as many people as possible know about the launch event.

The leaflets invite people to go along to the December 2 launch, which is being held on the morning after Wellington’s Christmas lights are officially switched on.

Visitors will be able to enjoy free tastings of some of the best foods and drinks produced in the Food Town catchment area and can also take the opportunity to stock up for Christmas.

The occasion will be a launch pad for a project running over the next five years to turn Wellington into the ‘Food Town’ of Somerset, in the same way as Ludlow is recognised as the Food Town of the Midlands.

The mouthwatering launch occasion will be held in a large marquee off Wellington High Street from 10 am to 4 pm.

The marquee will house around 40 stalls for local food producers and suppliers who will be giving away food and drink samples and talking to visitors about their products and will seat more than 100 people for expert demonstrations and workshops by several local chefs, including sessions on how to make healthy lunchboxes for schoolchildren and interesting ideas for party food.

Wellington Food Town steering group chairman John Cottrell said: “I am delighted with the support we are receiving from our local community, which all helps to ensure the launch event is going to be a resounding success.

“The response from producers and retailers has been fantastic, while other types of businesses are quickly realising that we are all going to benefit by attracting more people to visit Wellington and to shop and buy services here.

“In the longer-term, the Food Town concept will encourage a healthier retail and service economy in Wellington, which will mean more local jobs, more tourists and regular visitors, a thriving local agricultural economy, and a more attractive and appealing town centre.”

As well as showcasing the fabulous range and quality of produce in the Wellington area, the launch will kick-start a series of other food-based events in the town planned for 2007.

Wellington Food Town is being organised by Wellington Economic Partnership and Somerset Food Links in conjunction with Taunton Deane Borough Council and Wellington Town Council, which are giving financial support, and it is also being supported by Wellington Chamber of Commerce and Trade, and the Wellington Farmers’ Market.

More information is available from Nicky Saunter at Somerset Food Links on 01458 241401 or email nickys@foodlinks.org.uk or by logging on to http://www.wellingtonfoodtown.blogspot.com/.
Our photographs show: 1) Wellington Food Town steering group chairman John Cottrell with some of the 75,000 pints of milk produced weekly at his Gundenham Dairy, Langford Budville; 2) Don Jones fish shop proprietor Steve Freeman (left) with Sam Cunningham (centre) and Conrad Fielding in their award-winning shop in Cornhill, Wellington.