A LEADING hotelier in Taunton has criticised the positioning of a funfair on the new Castle Green development during last weekend's Christmas lights switch-on.

Kit Chapman, proprietor of The Castle, made the comments on his blog following the Christmas Market and switch-on.

He wrote: “Sometimes I despair of the town I love. The town I grew up in.

“Our local authority tells us it has a vision for Taunton but there are moments when that vision evaporates into a crass failure of purpose and imagination.

“Our council has just spent millions converting a tired and scruffy Castle Green into the ‘cultural heart’ of Taunton.

“So what is laid on to give the town’s ‘cultural heart’ its first outing? A funfair no less! A grotesque assembly of plastic and metal graffiti crowned by a giant, purple Incredible Hulk set amidst 1,200 years of the history we are so passionate to conserve.”

Responding to the criticism, Taunton town centre manager Graham Love (right) said: “Castle Green is a great space for all manner of events.

“Working with Taunton Deane Council and local businesses, Taunton Town Centre Company has put together a programme of events with wide appeal in the five-week period to Christmas.

“This weekend sculptors will carve the mythical Wyvern from a large block of ice and on December 1 there will be community carols.”