Malvern's iconic buzzards are set to soar come rain or shine every day and night following a decision to illuminate them with energy efficient floodlights.
Members of Malvern Town Council have voted to light up the statue, in Rosebank Gardens, between dusk and midnight every day using LED lighting.
The proposal to illuminate the £17,500 sculpture has sparked heated debate at the council, the Malvern Gazette.
Some councillors have hailed the statue as a real asset for the town, which could help to boost tourism in the area.
Others have stated that this would be a waste of money, especially consider Worcestershire County Council is considering having outdoor lights switched off overnight.
However, the energy efficient nature of the illuminations means that while they are more expensive to install, they will save considerable money on energy bills in the long run, making them a financially viable option for the council.
Councillor Hannah Campbell said the requests to light the statue had come from residents themselves.
She added that the illumination of it is part of doing everything possible to promote something that is now a "main attraction for the town".
"The costs with the right technology will be minimal and the benefits to the town will be great," she continued.
Town councillors ultimately voted in favour of the proposals 9-6 and the lighting work is expected to cost around £1,500. A bronze plaque, mounted on a stone plinth will also be installed by the buzzard statue.
Councillor Peter Smith described the objections to light the statue as "extraordinary pedantry and against the majority of public opinion".
A number of councils up and down the country are looking to energy efficient replacements for their traditional incandescent outdoor lighting as a way of saving money. Authorities are also looking at different ways of accentuating their landmarks.
Indeed, the famous Blackpool Tower was illuminated with a new LED lighting system last week.
