THE Dorchester community is being urged to take the opportunity to shape the future of its carnival.

The county town’s annual celebration is set for a major overhaul after Dorchester Round Table decided it will no longer run the event after more than four decades.

Round Table member and former carnival chairman John Palmer has taken it upon himself to set up a new carnival committee as a separate entity and wants to hear from all those people who are willing to get involved.

Mr Palmer said he held no ill will towards the Round Table for its decision and is grateful for its offer to cover the insurance and liability costs for a couple of years until the new committee is fully up and running.

However, he said he could not stand by and simply watch the event fold.

Mr Palmer said: “I know the carnival hasn’t been brilliant for the last couple of years but for Dorchester not to have a carnival would be wrong.”

He said it was now a chance to refresh the carnival with a new team from the community.

Mr Palmer said he had already secured a main sponsor in the shape of builders’ merchants Jewsons and Mayor of Dorchester Stella Jones had agreed to join the committee.

However, he said he needed lots more support to ensure the event was able to get up and running and was open to new ideas to take the event in a fresh direction.

Mr Palmer said: “I want to ask for help from anybody who wants to be involved with the committee.

“I want to create a committee that will give the carnival some longevity and some stability.”

He added: “I want to ask the community for people who want to help and give up their time.

“I want to get the town and shops involved and want new ideas.”

Mr Palmer said that this was an opportunity to make Dorchester’s carnival an event to be proud of.

He said: “Dorchester is the county town and we should be the biggest festival of its type.

“It’s such a lovely town, it deserves to have something special.”

Anyone who is interested in getting involved can contact Mr Palmer by emailing dorchester carnival@outlook.com.

People will also be able to get information on the latest developments from the Dorchester Carnival Facebook page.