A drive-in cinema will NOT be screened in Felixstowe this year, after councillors voted against taxpayers funding the event.

The Finance and Governance committee also flushed away suggestions of installing temporary loos at Landguard as they felt with more visitor attractions now opening up, there was no longer a need.

However, members said they would fund replacing the Wicker family with a newer version, perhaps even with an addition.

Nub News reported how full council members approved a budget of £10,000 for the committee to pay for the three projects if they agreed details and a necessity.

However, only the Wicker family passed scrutiny last night and it was agreed to pay the £2.5k needed to commission artist Tracey Barrett-Brown and give the sculptures new life.

Options, including putting the Wicker family into hibernation until next Spring, using other artists, using more durable materials, and putting old family into a museum or recycling the wicker.

It was agreed to ask Mrs Barrett-Brown to replace the family like for like, with perhaps a new baby, and allow the Wicker family to stay in the gardens through the winter months.

Cllr Tracey Green said: "The family is very popular. People enjoy taking pictures with them all year round so I endorse a straight replacement."

Cllr Steve Wiles added: "It is not a massive amount of council money to put a smile on people's faces."

While the Wicker family were given the thumbs up, councillors decided against spending between £5.5k - £6k on a drive-in or outdoor cinema as suggested by Felixstowe Forward.

The idea was first floated when tighter restrictions were in place and people could have stayed in their bubbles to watch a film together.

Councillors explored three options at their meeting last night but baulked at the idea of a ticket price of £35 per car, perhaps with the council subsiding that cost.

It was decided instead to approach an operator suggesting they run the event for up to 75 cars at a venue to be decided, with Grove Park, Martello Park and the Landguard area put forward.

"Back in May, while people loved the idea of family sitting in their car and being in their own bubble and watching a film together one evening," said Cllr Wiles, "the feedback we are getting now is residents have changed their minds and while it is still very popular there are concerns over the value for money and its limited reach."

Cllr Stuart Bird said: "I don't wish to be a killjoy but I really can't see the benefit of this.

"It doesn't even fall into the category of use a sprat to catch a mackerel, IE, bringing people into the area in the hope of spending money in the town.

"People would just drive in, sit in their cars and drive home again. It would not generate additional footfall.

"If we are looking to find things to kickstart our economy and stimulating the town, I could think of 1,001 things better than this."

Kimberly Williams admitted she had 'pivoted' on the idea and said: We have to be mindful that the original intention was to put something on in the community that would bring people together and we have to remember there are large sections of the community who would be excluded. There are some who don't have cars, some elderly who still don't want to come out and those who could not afford a ticket, even if it was subsided.

"So I don't think it is meeting the objective of bringing people together. We should be finding another event to fund."

The Finance and Governance committee discussed three options:

1 - A turnkey event, where the operator runs the event including the operation of the screen, bluetooth sound link, technical aspect, staff, catering, marshalling, licensing and advertising for the event.

2 – A local events organiser runs the event and charges for tickets.

n this scenario they would dry hire the screen, the sound system and the technical guys at a set cost per day, second day cheaper, third cheaper again. Local events organiser would then sort the license direct with the licensing company Filmbank Media and would be responsible for advertising, catering and marshalling of the event as well as ticket sales. There is a possibility of using their ticket sales system however there would be a cost of this per ticket.

3 - A local events organiser runs the event as a free event.

In the third scenario the organisers would hire the screen, the sound system and the technical crew at a set cost per day, second day cheaper, third cheaper again.

However, with this option the supplier would be able to purchase the film licences which would be £160+Vat per film, rather than a cost based on % of ticket sales.

See What's On in the Felixstowe area here...