Plans for civic ball (From Stroud News and Journal)

Plans for civic ball

A GRAND civic ball could be held to honour the people of Stonehouse as town councillors form a working party to plan a glitzy annual bash.

Members of Stonehouse Town Council agreed to investigate the cost and organisation of a civic ball after it was proposed by town and district councillor Chris Brine.

"I would very much like to see this town have an annual civic ball," he told the council on Monday night.

"I think if we can do it once it could become a calendar event."

Details of the ball, which would include civic leaders, local businessman and community figures, are yet to be finalised but Cllr Brine said the event would be self-funding.

"Stonehouse houses the largest industrial estate in the district," he said. "We can go to these companies and say 'why don't you sponsor a table?'

"It would not take long to fill 250 seats if we do it that way. Getting the tickets sold will be the hard bit."

Council chairman Mattie Ross added: "We will not be taking this out of the precept."

Town councillors seemed quite taken with the idea of an annual bash. Deputy chairman Sue Latchford said: "It seems like a good idea. It could raise the profile of the town and the work that many people do for the town."

Cllr Brine was given the go-ahead to form a working party with councillors Martin Kilminster and Richard Warburton to look into the organisation of the event.

he group will report back to later council meetings on their progress.

ENDS