THE people of Wellington are going to be given the opportunity to have their say on whether the town should have its own mascot.

Cllr Marcus Barr had previously suggested that Wellington should have a life-size cartoon-style mascot, similar to those used by football clubs, to help give the town an identity.

The mascot would come in the form of an outfit which would then be worn by a person.

But members of Wellington Town Council’s town centre committee seemed to be less enthusiastic about the idea than Cllr Barr when they discussed it at their meeting on Tuesday.

Cllr Barr said he felt that once Wellington had its own mascot, other towns would do the same and follow suit.

“We have to look at ways of promoting our town and a mascot would be a great way to the promote the town with children,” he said.

Cllr Barr suggested that they could run a competition among the local schools to get a name for the mascot.

Committee chairman, Cllr Janet Lloyd, said she was continuing to “sit on the fence” about the idea, but suggested that the mascot should be in the form of a fox – in commemoration of Wellington’s long history with clothmaker Fox Brothers and Co.

But the Mayor, Cllr Mark Lithgow, said he was “totally opposed” to the idea of Wellington having its own mascot.

“I think it would be totally inappropriate for the town council to have one,” he said. “We are already represented by the Mayor and I really don’t see this working.

“I can see as a burden around our necks. I don’t see the point of it and I don’t see the purpose of it. I don’t see it working in any practical way.”

Councillors were given various options on what they could do including the council buying its own costume ranging in price from £1,800 to £4,000 or hiring a performer and costume from an events company as and when required at cost of up to £400 a day.

There was concern about all the expenses that would mount up including insurance and legal checks, plus finding a reliable volunteer to wear the costume if the council decided to do it all in-house.

Cllr Catherine Govier added: “There were legs in the idea, but now practically I just don’t know whether it’s going to work. I don’t think we can justify the cost.”

Sean Pringle Kosikowsky, a former town councillor but still a member of the town centre committee, suggested that they should trial the mascot at a future event such as the street fair.

“We could then carry out a survey and ask people whether they think it is a good idea to have a town mascot,” he said.

Councillors agreed that this would be a good way to proceed with the possible initiative in order to make a final decision.