PLANS are going ahead for a first-ever Garden of Light event in Wellington – although councillors are still not overly happy about how much it is going to cost.

The night-time event is due to take place at Wellington Park on Saturday, October 25, and is being co-ordinated by Fuse Performance Ltd who will turn the area into a magical and peaceful place with lighting and sound.

Funding for the event is amounting to nearly £18,500 and Wellington Town Council has previously agreed with funding support to the tune of £8,000.

Councillors met at the authority’s monthly meeting on Monday, August 4, where they were asked to support a recommendation from the council’s events working group to ask people to “pay what you can” for tickets and that the council handed over 75 per cent of the £8,000 funding to Fuse now and the remainder on completion of the event.

And although the council has thrown its support behind the event – some councillors are not entirely convinced about the money being involved.

Cllr Justin Cole said: “It is a staggering amount of money to be spent on this event.”

Cllr Keith Wheatley added: “It could be the most expensive two hours in the history of Wellington!”

Sally Mann, of Fuse Performance Ltd, told councillors that several site meetings had been held and that a community engagement programme was being sorted out to involve local schoolchildren.

“It is looking very exciting,” she said.

And although the Garden of Light event has been discussed by the council on various occasions this year, Cllr Cole was still not entirely sure what it was all about.

“What is the event?” he asked.

Councillors heard the event would involve illuminated lanterns along with sound and film installations based on a theme of Wellington’s heritage and nature.