A town’s 89-year-old floral clock has been covered over in concrete by its caretakers because so few volunteers were willing to water it.
Weston-super-Mare’s Lions Club had been responsible for maintaining the local landmark, which dates back to 1935, for the past 10 years.
However, the club’s president admitted they had been forced to completely cover it with concrete after only two members had offered to water the 20,000 plants on display.
Chick Parkin told the BBC: “Over the last three years we found it harder and harder to look after the clock.
“We put out a plea last year for people to come out and help us water it, but only two people reacted to our cry for help.”
Mr Parkin said they had been watering the flowers three times a week in summer and it was still not enough to keep them alive.
The club says an artist will paint a mural of sunflowers on the concrete and there will be permanent flowers to attract bees.
The clock was built in 1935 and then restored in 1951.
North Somerset Council said it did not give permission for the concreting to take place.
Cllr Mike Solomon said he plans to meet with the group but admitted “it’s difficult to think of a way forward”.
He said: “It’s been important to Westonians and I am a Westonian.
“But we are talking about 20,000 plants being planted every year and maintained.
“We are in a place now where we just don’t have that money to spend. It’s difficult to think of a way forward.”
A spokesman for North Somerset Council said: “North Somerset Council was not given notice that work was planned, and, as landowner, we did not give our permission for work to be undertaken.
“We appreciate the hard work of the Lions volunteers over many years and look forward to finding an acceptable solution.”
