The media are reporting that York has pulled out of the Britain in Bloom competition.

The responsible Councillor (Crisp) is quoted as saying that the City is “taking a breather from the event“.

The decision to pull out has not however been discussed by the Council and was unknown to the many hundreds of volunteers who have been preparing individual entries for the competition.

In 2011 the Council Leader was quoted, when trying to justify a £1000 travel bill incurred by a delegation- led by Cllr Crisp – to the Britain in Bloom national awards ceremony in Scotland.

He said then that Britain in Bloom success had “boosted York’s reputation”.

He went on to say:

“Events such as this have possible economic benefits in creating collaboration between different councils, which can produce more significant savings in the future.

“Such political attacks will not deter the cabinet from doing our job properly by increasing our influence, and this will inevitably cost a modest amount”
Ironically, The City’s good showing in 2-011 was down to the hard work of the previous LibDem administration that had gradually restored the City’s reputation for flora displays.

The announcement of the pull out comes only days after the council said that it was to spend £75,000 a year advertising the City at the Leeds-Bradford airport.

Work on a £500,000 project to relay paving stones in Kings Square also starts next week.

Cllr Crisp was unable to say how much pulling out of the Britain in Bloom contest had saved the City but tourist chiefs said it was another blow to the City centre economy.