AFTER weeks of social media hype backing plans to revive Halesowen Carnival, there was a “disappointing” turnout to Saturday’s public meeting.

About 140 carnival fans were expected to pack into the library’s Shenstone Theatre and Caslon Hall but only 22 members of the public turned up.

Simon Walker, who is spearheading the revival bid, said: “I was not happy at all.

“With the number of people following us on social media I thought there would be a lot of people coming along and offering help.”

It cost him £44 to book the entire floor of the library and he has paid more than £100 out of his own pocket so far on the booking fee for the inaugural meeting, printing and stationery and travel expenses.

But Mr Walker, who was elected chairman at the meeting, said he could not spend any more of his own money and is hoping fundraising events will take off to cover costs of staging the carnival at Huntingtree Park next July.

Despite his disappointment, he said the meeting was successful in that those who did come along were keen to help and full of ideas.

A committee, with treasurer, minute secretary and general secretary was elected.

Halesowen North UKIP councillor Stuart Henley, who joined the committee as health and safety officer, said he was not surprised at the low turnout.

He said: “People want things to happen but getting them involved is more difficult. Those who did come along came up with lots of great ideas.”

Volunteers also took responsibility for liaising with voluntary groups and social media.

As chairman, Mr Walker will also take on publicity and sponsorship for the carnival, which it is hoped will also include a street parade of traditional floats.

He said the committee decided to abandon plans for future public meetings but would be putting up an information stall in Somers Square, at a date to be fixed, to update people about the carnival plans.

A fundraising paper chase around the town centre was also launched last weekend, but has had little take up so far.

Entry packs are available in the Rio Bar and Co-op Travel and entrants have to answer clues which direct them to businesses where they will find coloured letters displayed.

Once all 24 are collected, they will make up a short sentence and the winning entries will go into a monthly prize winning draw until November 7.