Despite a more than $100, 000 donation over five years, some on Centre Wellington council expressed concerns with a proposal to light the Green Space in downtown Elora over the winter holidays.
Council agreed to enter into an agreement with Kat Florence Canada Company Limited to pay $26,000 a year to install the lights for four months in the winter.
“Last winter walking downtown the amount of lighting in the Green Space almost made it look dark and lighting makes people feel safe and secure in the park,” explained managing director of community services, Pat Newson.
Township staff were concerned with the decorations put up last year that were bright enough for the photo cells on the street lights to mistake the light for day light.
“We do have climate change and environmental stewardship in our strategic plan and it does seem a little counterintuitive that we are trying to light up the downtown core of Elora to such an extent that our own streetlights think its daytime when it’s actually nighttime,” explained Councillor Bronwynne Wilton. “So I am concerned about what kind of message that sends in terms of are we actually trying to conserve energy or are we just using it as we want to just to make something look pretty in the eyes of a few people”
Wilton was also concerned the plan calls for 40-60 pounds of lights on each tree and pointed out the Township’s tree policy says nothing should be put on the trees.
“We took a lot of time to assess this before said it’s a great idea on our trees that are our assets in our parks, ” explained Newson. “Our arborist has reviewed the plan, the weight and all that information and how they will be attached and he has no concerns.”
