Flower co-ordinators for town at £12k each

A taxpayer-funded body created to bring investment to Bilston has employed two workers to co-ordinate flowers for the town's entry in a floral competition, it emerged today.

The pair have been given six month full-time contracts to "administrate" the town's contest entry. Their duties include advising schools on making their grounds look pretty and helping shop owners brighten their fronts.

The workers are understood to be being paid £12,000 between them and have been created by Bilston Development Project.

Manager Cheryl Welsh said: "It's a real positive being able to offer two local young people a six-month job as a result of the Bilston in Bloom project.

"It will give them lots of experience working in their own community and opening their eyes to regeneration and community development careers."

She added the two roles, which have been filled by a 19 and 22-year-old , were being funded through the Government's Future Jobs Fund scheme.

They have been created in preparation for the annual Heart of England In Bloom contest where towns and villages across the Midlands try to impress judges with floral displays

But today the jobs were criticised by the TaxPayers' Alliance, which said they were a waste of public cash in the current economic climate.

Spokeswoman Fiona McEvoy said: "It seems excessive to be paying two salaries for this task.

"Of course it's important that the area looks nice, but we have to question whether this spend represents value for money."

In Wolverhampton businesses and volunteers are encouraged to brighten their fronts and gardens but there are no specific jobs created to co-ordinate the efforts.

In most towns volunteers or local councillors act as co-ordinators.

Bilston Development Project was set up by Heanton Housing to deliver a programme of regeneration projects and initiatives.

It is funded by Advantage West Midlands, Wolverhampton Network Consortium, the European Regional Dev- elopment Fund and Wolverhampton City Council.