An attempt to breathe new life into High Wycombe on Friday nights has been branded a “waste of money” which appeals to “a certain middle-class white person”.
The criticism came after the inaugural First Friday event was held around the Guildhall and Little Market House last week.
The initiative aims to change perceptions of the town centre and encourage more people to enjoy its early-evening and night-time attractions.
Visitors were treated to live music from a band, while informal seating, a putting game and a giant Connect Four were provided.
Tables outside B’Hive and the nearby Merletto Lounge were also said to have been full, with some visitors even dancing.
Organisers estimated that around 35 people were seated or standing immediately around the Guildhall at the busiest point, while others watched from nearby seating and businesses or passed through the area.
A cartoon “First Friday Swan” was used to promote the event, with feathers and other clues appearing around the town beforehand to stir up interest.
But Cllr Julia Wassell launched an attack on the scheme during a meeting of High Wycombe Town Committee.
She said: “I think this is a waste of money. It appeals to a certain middle-class white person who wants a whimsical ‘swandering’.
“I don’t know about anybody else, but come a Friday evening, about the most I can manage is going out and getting fish and chips.
“I do not want to go squandering and swandering under the Guildhall.”
Cllr Wassell also called for an equality impact assessment, adding: “If I was from other communities, I would say, ‘What is this about?’”
However, committee chairman Cllr Ed Gemmell defended the event, saying it was difficult to judge without attending it.
He said: “The atmosphere was great. There was a vast amount of smiling. It just felt happy.
“It also felt safe, bizarrely, for those couple of hours. It felt happy and safe, and there was a lot of smiling.”
Cllr Mahboob Hussain, who passed through the event, said it was “wonderful” and “good to bring the life back into Wycombe”.
Buckinghamshire Council’s economic partnerships lead, Jacqueline Ford, said the event had deliberately started small and was intended to invite people to participate rather than tell them what to do.
She said organisers wanted to demonstrate that High Wycombe already had evening attractions and encourage people to use them.
Another First Friday is planned for October, with organisers intending to make adjustments and involve more businesses.
Officers were also asked to investigate what it would take to open the public toilets in Pauls Row for two hours.
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