A COUNCILLOR said he had concerns about supporting an event which “singled out” minority groups in Wellington.

The Somerset Diverse Communities organisation has asked Wellington Town Council if it could look at backing a “Together” event in the area whereby multi-cultural groups and families in the town come together and showcase and celebrate their traditional food, dances and way of life.

The council’s community committee agreed last month that it should recommend to the full council to back the idea in principle and get more information.

But Cllr John Thorne, speaking at the council’s full meeting on June 3, was not happy about the idea.

“I’m concerned about this one,” he said. “We’ve just had a Wellington Town Council event this past weekend (the street fair on June 1) which was for the whole town – not singling out minority groups. I don’t think we need to spend money on something like this.”

But Cllr Thorne’s views were not shared by council colleagues.

Cllr Catherine Govier, chairman of the council’s community committee, said: “We haven’t said we’ll spend any money it, but that we’ll find out more about what it’s about.

“I think it is important to celebrate diversity in the town and the event is about togetherness. I’m happy we proceed with what we have suggested.”

And Cllr Govier added: “It’s important that we value diversity and I’m wholeheartedly behind it.”

Cllr Mark Lithgow said: “There is a definite interest in diversity and it is all around us, but we haven’t necessarily got involved with it before.”

Cllr Sean Pringle Kosikowsky said the Wellington Together event sounded like a “celebration of people” and should be supported.

Town clerk Dave Farrow said that, at this stage, it was about the council “supporting the idea with a degree of involvement.”

Cllr Lithgow proposed that the town council showed its support for the event and it was seconded by Cllr Janet Lloyd. Councillors voted 8-1 in favour of the proposal with just Cllr Thorne the dissenting voice in the room.

Similar events have been held elsewhere in Somerset including Yeovil, Taunton and Bridgwater.