Plans are in the pipeline to hold a film festival in Wellington in a bid to attract more visitors to the town.

The idea has come from Keith Wheatley and Wellesley Cinema manager Dave Harris, and was discussed during a recent meeting of the Wellington Town Centre Working Group.

They provided information on possible themes, timing and the organisation that would be necessary to see the festival come to fruition either later this year or in 2019.

A report said the group would look further into the suggestion and could possibly incorporate a film festival in with other arts events at the same time in the town.

Not all members of Wellington Town Council were, however, impressed by the idea with Cllr John Thorne suggesting that organising a film festival was ‘straying away’ from the remit of the town centre working group. But group chairman Cllr Mark Lithgow told councillors it was ‘exactly what it should be doing’.

Cllr Lithgow said the festival could attract more visitors to Wellington which in turn would provide shopkeepers with extra footfall.

But town clerk Greg Dyke said “The town council does not have the expertise or the staff to organise a film festival.”

The working group has said that volunteers would be required to sit on an organising committee to take the project further.

WHAT do you think? Should Wellington have a film festival? What films would you like to see? Let the WWN know – write to Wellington Weekly News, 26 High Street, Wellington, Somerset TA21 8RA or email edit@wellington

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